The National Coordinating Organisation for farmer Associations The Gambia (NACOFAG) with funding from the Participatory Integrated and Water Shed Management Project (PIWAMP) over the weekend organised a two-day capacity building on Agronomic Production for over 40 farmers across the country.

The training workshop was held at the Agricultural Rural Farmers’ Training Centre in Jenoi Village in Jarra West District of the Lower River Region (LRR).

In his opening remarks, LaminDarboe, the governor of the Lower River Region, commended the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh for championing the cause of agriculture by emphasising that the Agricultural sector has always been a top priority ofthe Gambia government under the leadership of President Jammeh, who has been a real Agriculturist.

He went on to echo the words of President Jammeh by calling on all to come back and till the land so as to enable Gambians grow what they eat and eat what they grow. He pointed out that the government has not only procured, but also distributed lots of farming implements and inputs such as tractors, seeds and fertilizer to enable the countrybecome food self-sufficient.

He described the initiative taken by NACOFAG to train and equip its members with skills and knowledge to enhance their production as a step in the right direction while urging them to continue with their endeavours. He finally assured them of his office’s support while urging the participants to take the training with seriousness so as to enable them participate fully as well as share the information with others.

For his part, Falalo Touray, the Regional Agricultural Director inLRR spoke at length on his Ministry’s vision and mission, noting that the Gambia Government through the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to provide technical support to the farming community witha view to revitalise the agricultural sector. He challenged the participants to take the training seriously by making sure that they all participate fully throughout the whole sessions of the training.

Lamin Fayinkeh, the president of NACOFAG explained that the Association was established by Gambian farmers in 2000 and presently consists of 11 associations with a membership of over 45,000 farmers across the country. He added that his Association is also a member of the West Africa Sub-Regional Network of Peasant and Producer Associations based in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The NACOFAG president further stated that the training they organised with funding from PIWAMP is meant to build the capacities of the participants on Agronomic production so as to encourage them to take up the challenge to improve and increase rice and other agricultural production in The Gambia.