90 College Students trained on Food processing, packaging techniques

At least ninety students of The Gambia College in Brikama have benefited from a three-day intensive training on food processing, packaging and other practices to boost agricultural production and productivity.

The convergence which was held over the weekend, was organised by Empowering Agricultural Youth Development Association (EAYDA), with funding from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The training targets youth, particularly Gambia College agriculture students to coach them on food processing, packaging and using home ground agricultural farm products, ranging from wonjo, ginger, groundnut and pepper.

Burry Tunkara the association coordinator, expressed appreciation for the interest the participants show by exceeding the targeted number from 70 to 90 students.

She said that shows the interest and commitment the students have demonstrated towards the Association.

According to her, the purpose of the training was to empower the youth to become self-sufficient, reliance and develop their capacity in acquiring useful knowledge in order to enhance meaningful contribution to national development. He said it also targets to discourage irregular migration.

Gambia College principal, Abubacarr Jallow  said home grown farm produce is what The Gambia has been lacking, saying most of the time, farmers sell the raw produce without adding any value and would consequently get lesser price in the sale.

He said value addition food processing is very important because its processing period take lesser time and lesser effort than the production period.

According to the College principal, it is important for agriculture students to start thinking about the transformative process of changing raw materials into valuable products that can be sold not only in the local markets, but also outside The Gambia.

Mr Jallow commended the Association for their steadfastness in organising the training to eradicate poverty in the country. He challenged the students to start the process of selling at the school of agriculture.