The Food Security and Commercialisation (FCSA) regional office in Kerewan on Friday held a day’s consultative forum with maize growers to map out strategies for the formation of a maize growers’ association in the region. The forum aimed to support, to revive and strengthen maize cultivation and contribute to food availability, poultry feed and enhance income generation for farmers.

Speaking at the occasion, Lang Kinteh, the FSCA coordinator, hailed the efforts of farmers for supporting his office in promoting ‘One Crop Per Village’ initiative with the ultimate objectives of enhancing food security and income generation. In the last two years, he informed, seven communities in the region have been fully engaged in maize production in partnership with FSCA.

Kinteh said FSCA attached great importance to partnership and networking with NGOs and institutions in promoting maize production. The involvement of partners, he noted, would contribute in human resource and resource mobilisation towards the realisation of set objectives. He lauded the efforts of farmers in promoting the ‘One Crop Per Village’ initiative, noting that the concept is to enhance production and marketing of farm produce.

Speaking earlier, Mustapha Saidy, deputy governor of NBR, thanked FCSA, a component of the FAO, for complementing government’s efforts in food security and sustainable development. According to him, the setting up of maize farmers’ association in the region would contribute to the promotion of maize production and marketing.

Saidy applauded all stakeholders and farmers for their active participation in food production and sustainable livelihood of the people. He also commended President Jammeh for promoting food production and empowering farmers towards the country’s quest in attaining food self sufficiency.

Dr. Saikou E. Sanyang, Regional Agriculture director in NBR, commended the FAO through the Food Security and Commercialisation project for complementing the efforts of the Department of Agriculture. He said government’s commitment in food production and sustainable agriculture has been manifested in the Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE), “by making agriculture profitable, enhancing the ability of farmers in the commercialisation process and ensuring food availability”.

He hailed the efforts of FSCA for spearheading the formation process of maize farmers’ association in the region, noting that networking and partnering with farmers and other stakeholders helping enhancing trust and confidence among members.

The executive director of the Agency for the Development of Women and Children (ADWAC), Mamsamba Joof, lauded the initiative and assured of his agency’s support to farmer associations in the diversification of food production to increase income. He observed that an increase in maize production would support food production and poultry feed for poultry farmers.

He called on committee members to be proactive and committed to the attainment of set objectives of advancing maize production and resource mobilisation. Deputising for the director of Njawara Agricultural Training Center, Mama Manneh, the programmer manager, thanked farmers for attaching great importance to food production. She also lauded the efforts of farmers for their commitment and concerns in promoting maize production in Lower Baddibu.

In his power point presentation, Nfamara Conteh, field officer of FSCA farmers group, expressed the need for farmers to support and cooperate in promoting cereal production.