A total of US$67,901 is allocated to nine forest and farm producer organisations (FFPOs) after they awarded projects through the Forest Farm Facility (FFF) Small Grant Scheme
The signing of projects was held at the office of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Tuesday.
Speaking on the occasion, the national facilitator of the FFF in The Gambia, Mr Kanimang Camara, said the objective of FFF Small Grant is to provide direct support to forest and farm producer organisations in order to strengthen the capacities of their member for livelihoods and policy engagement.
Mr Kamara, who is also the director of Natural Resources Consulting (NACO), said more than 30 project proposals were received from organisations, nationwide, that opted for support from FFF Small Grants Scheme.
“Out of that, nine were finally selected and are now about to sign their Letters of Agreement,” he said.
The awarded organisations include All Gambia Forestry Platform, Brufut Allatentou Association, Bureng Adult Literacy Class, Japanteh Society, REFESA Association, Rural Development Association, Rural Poultry Farmer Association, and Tumana Association for Development.
The percentages of female and male membership of the associations are 56.3% and 43.7%, respectively and the associations have a total membership of 13,170 people.
The president of the National Farmers Platform of The Gambia, Alagie Bassi Mboge, said his organisation will ensure that the funds given to the nine associations are put into proper use, in the interest of their members.