At least 20 farmers selected within Kiang Central District in the Lower River Region have concluded a four-day training on horticultural production, organised by The Gambia Holland Foundation (GHF). The training held at the Bambako Multi Purpose Training Centre exposed farmers to various skills in horticultural production, which are expected to enhance their farming activities.

Speaking at the occasion, the programme manager of The Gambia Holland Foundation, Demba Jobarteh revealed that his organisation was established in 2007 with the objective of empowering communities through the medium of literacy to combat poverty. Jobarteh underscored that the training was meant to build the capacity of the participants on horticultural production. He also informed the participants that the multi-purpose centre that housed them for the training was financed by his organisation last year at the tune of D1M.

The chief of Kiang Central District, Demba Sanyang, expressed gratitude to theFoundation for not only establishing the centre, but also for providing such a meaningful training to the farmers. He urged the beneficiaries to put all hands on deck in ensuring that the project achieves its objectives.

The Regional Agricultural director in LRR, Falalo Touray, expressed his appreciation over the establishment of the center, and assured the Foundation of his office’s support towards the sustainability of the project. Touray enjoined the participants to put into practice the knowledge they would have learned during the training, as well as to share the information with the larger community. He used the opportunity to reaffirm the Gambia government’s commitment towards the agriculture sector.

“The government is exploring all possible means to ensure that farmers are not only supported but also encouraged to take agriculture as a very productive sector,” he concluded.