Ebrima O Camara, permanent secretary at the Office of the President, has said that the advent of a sustainable food security system in The Gambia and in Sahelian countries in the sub-region is a necessity that can not be over emphasised.

He added that this was why the African heads of states and governments had decided to adopt the Detailed Program for the Development of Agriculture in Africa (PDDAA). Permanent Secretary Camara was speaking, yesterday, at the conference hall of Seaview Garden Hotel in Kololi, while presiding over the official opening of a three-day validation workshop on the monitoring and evaluation system of the National Food Security Strategy (SNSA).

The workshop, among many others, aims at ensuring that The Gambia, like other CILSS member countries, is provided with an efficient structure to enhance good governance in food security. Accordingly, it will also enable participants to share indicators contained in the performance indicator table in order to come up with a strong and vibrant food security system.

Participants were drawned from CILSS member countries and the Sahelian region, as well as international organisations in the country. In the words of PS Camara, "as in the CILSS member countries, the sahelian region still needs more improvement in sustainable agricultural development, due to the high contribution of the agricultural sector to the national economies of these countries.

He however stated that despite all the efforts made, a large number of people (mainly from sahelian countries), are still suffering from food insecurity and malnutrition, because of the persistence of environmental, socio-economic and institutional constraints. "This situation is a challenge to all of us and it calls for concerted actions to provide our people with sustainable food security and a decent life," PS Camara remarked.

He assured participants that the Government of The Gambia values the programme, saying that he was optimistic that the programme will contribute greatly to good management of food security in the country. He then urged stakeholders to actively participate in what he described as an "important" initiative, and to collaboratein order to develop the necessary synergies for the operation of the scheme. For Laurent Millogo, representative of the executive secretary of CILSS, the three days program will no doubt lead to the enhancement of a vibrant food security system for The Gambia. According to him, the program is meant to strengthen the national food security strategy of The Gambia.

Millogo then expressed hope that at the end of the programme, the capacity of the participants will be well enhanced to enable them to deliver as expected. While thanking the Government of The Gambia for hosting the three-day workshop, Millogo called for concerted collaboration in order to successfully attain its set goals.