The five-day capacity development workshop for 60 vegetable farmers drawn from across the country was held at the Chamen Agricultural and Seed Multiplication Centre in the North Bank Region.
Falalo Touray, deputy director general at the department of agriculture, underscored the importance of building farmers on improved vegetable production and technology and use of value chain approach to increase income and address post-harvest loss.
He said enhancing farmer’s capacity on vegetable processing and preservation would contribute to poverty reduction and increased income.
He lauded the Gambia Emergency and Agricultural Productivity Project Phase 2 for funding and commended Horticultural Technical Services for the foresight in strengthening farmer’s capacity on best bet agricultural practices.
Dr Saikou E. Sanyang, Regional Agricultural Director for NBR, said effective transfer of skills and knowledge on vegetable processing and preservation to increase production and productivity would bring about sustainable vegetable production.
Dr Sanyang called on farmers to be proactive in the implementation of skills to enhance production and income.
Amie Fabureh, Deputy Director of Horticultural Technical Services, at the department of agriculture, applauded women vegetable growers for their support to food diversification, nutritional development and poverty reduction.
She noted that capacity development on processing and preservation horticultural practices, composting, and pest and disease management would promote year-round production and control post-harvest lost.
She thanked West African Agriculture Productivity Project (WAAPP) and Gambia Emergency and Agricultural Productivity Project 2 for the support.
Ousman Jammeh, Regional agricultural director for West Coast Region, and Omar Sanneh, representative of WAAPP, echoed similar sentiment and called on the project to support farmers with processing equipment and machinery.
Sainey Drammeh of Jimara Bakadaji and Jonsaba Jawara of Kerewan both thanked the project and assured of their support to value chain and best agricultural practices.
