The
Government of The Gambia through the department of Agriculture, in
collaboration with Food and Agriculture Orgainsation (FAO) and other partners,
Thursday commemorated the International Year of Pulses (IYP) in the form of
food fair pulses.
The
commemoration, held at the Kanifing Municipality Council grounds, aimed to
raise awareness of the benefits of pulses, boost their production, consumption
and trade and encourage their smarter use throughout food chain.
Pulses,
including all kinds of dried beans and peas, are a cheap, delicious and highly
nutritious source of protein and vital micronutrients that can greatly benefit
people’s health, particularly in developing countries.
The
UN General Assembly, at its 68th session, declared 2016 as International Year
of Pulses (IYP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of United Nations
(FAO) was nominated to facilitate the implementation of the year in
collaboration with the governments, non-Governmental Organisations and other
relevant stakeholders.
Speaking
on the occasion, Mayor Yankuba Colley of the Kanifing Municipal Council, said
he was delighted and proud to be the host of the first ever national food fair
on pulses, as beans are one of the most important crops for The Gambia.
He
said: “According to experts, pulses have immense benefits for food and
nutrition security, public heath, the environment and biodiversity.”
Mayor
Colley added that beans are in high demand in The Gambia, adding that they are
part of the diet of most people within his municipality.
He
said though land for agricultural production is virtually nonexistent within
the Kanifing Municipality and Banjul, pulses, particularity beans are largely
consumed by the inhabitants of the municipality due to its population size and
market opportunities.
According
to Mayor Colley, people in these areas consume trade beans on a daily basis. He
solicited continued partnership and support in boosting pulse production and
trade as well as encouraging value addition throughout the food chain.
Also
speaking, the Director General of Agriculture, Falalo M. Touray, said the
international year of pulse 2016 with a food fair on pulses was conceived by
the UN General Assembly at its 68th session to raise awareness of the many
benefit of pulses, boost their production, consumption and trade and encourage
new and smarter uses throughout the food chain.
According
to him, his ministry designated the Food Technology Service Unit under the
department of Agriculture will work with FAO and other stakeholders to organize
awareness raising activities to mark the year.
He
said that the food fair forms part of the activities and a nationwide
sensitisation campaign on pulses will be spearheaded by the department of
Agriculture and will be undertaken in the near future to promote the crop in
the country.
“Agriculture
and food systems must become more resilient, productive, inclusive and
sustainable,” he said.
He
added that the Gambian government has and will continue to put in place the
requisite police, legal and institutional frameworks to transform the ANSR sectors
to respond to the challenges facing the sector; including climate change.
