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WCR Governor Alhagie Lamin Sanneh |
The Governor of West Coast Region-The
Gambia, Alhagie Lamin Sanneh has said that the National Agricultural Land and
Water Management Development Project (Nema)
–International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) financed project in The
Gambia has a potential to transform agriculture and improve economic
empowerment for beneficiaries-Gambian women and youths.
Governor Sanneh was delivering his
keynote statement at the second ‘Dialogue Forum’ organized by the Nema project
from 4th to 6th March, 2014 at the Wellengara
Agricultural Garden Training Centre in his own region West Coast Region (WCR).
The forum was meant for stakeholders
to look at the recommendations of the last ‘Dialogue Forum’ 28th to
29th November, 2013 at the same centre in WCR; harmonizing the
training manual developed by implementing partners- Department of Agriculture
(DOA), Plant Protection Services (PPS), Concern Universal (CU), Gambia
Horticultural Enterprises (GHE), University of The Gambia (UTG), National Women
Farmers’ Association (NAWFA), and Department of Community Development.
Another area of the forum also look at
the way forward for the step down trainings especially adopting an integrated
approach to the past trainings conducted by implementing partner contracted by Nema project.
According to him, the project-Nema is
in direct responses to the government of The Gambia’s formal request to IFAD to
lead in the implementation of the Gambia National Agriculture Investment Plan
(GINAP) 2011-2015.
He added that The Gambia government’s
Vision’s 2020, the Millennium Development Goals (MGDs), GNIAP, and the
Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE) all lay emphasizes on
developing the Gambia’s agriculture sector for sustainable food security and
poverty reduction.
“We all know that the government of
The Gambia through the able leadership of His Excellency Sheikh Professor
Alhagie Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh places food security very high in his development
agenda as amply manifested by asking us to ‘Grow What We Eat and Eat What We
Grow’. “He did not stop at telling us to go to the farm but also practicing what
he says by farming himself and he is Gambian number one farmer recognized worldwide.”
He told his audience that Nema is one
of such projects which aimed at enhancing food security and poverty reduction
in The Gambia, a phenomenon regarded as a priority for the government of The
Gambia.
The project, he continued, will
tackle the limited productivity and economic carrying capacity of land used for farming and poverty
developed domestic markets that generate very low real (cash) demand for the
smallholder producers.
However, much will depend on the
consolidation and sustaining of the gains the project made which without you
will be a daunting task.
“Let us work as teams and not as
individuals or Islands in our own
domains if we really want to meet our targets in a more efficient and effective
manner.”
Governor Sanneh recognized the efforts
of IFAD and thanked the Ministry of Agriculture for the interest and support demonstrated
throughout the development of the project as well as their continuous
invaluable support up to now.
West Coast Region, Governor who told
his audience that he knows Momodou Gassama whom, he said he (Governor Sanneh
and Gassama) are born in the same region WCR says that “I thank the Nema
project Director for his commitment and dedication towards the reliazation of
the project-Nema’s goal and objectives, he gave thumb-up to the Project
Director.
“I have no doubt that he project and
stakeholders will work with the beneficiaries of this important project by
providing the necessary technical support through an integrated and
participatory manner because you have the knowledge, the skills and qualities
to do so.”
His final words: “I am deeply
honoured to preside over the opening ceremony of the second ‘Dialogue Forum
2014’ funded by Nema; IFAD’s continues support to national development towards
agriculture.”
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