The
Micro-garden Exposition and Demonstration training held recently by the United
Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in collaboration with the
Department of Agriculture is a step in the right direction.
This
is because the training and the project itself is designed to promote urban
agriculture, employment creation, income generation and food and nutrition
security in the country.
The
project undertaking, which is part of a global initiative in which urban
gardening is gaining substantial momentum, is out to effectively place
sub-Saharan Africa as a hub for Green Cities Approach as well as Food and
Nutrition Security Strategy.
All
urban cities in The Gambia are targeted under the project to ensure the success
of micro gardens across the country.
Micro-gardening,
which is promoted by this Greener Cities Approach, is of immense benefit to the
horticultural farming communities in this country, as it serves as a reliable
source of fresh food and other avenues for financial resources for low-income
families.
“Micro-gardens
are highly productive and be easily managed by anyone – women, men, children,
the elderly and the disabled,” said FAO Resident Representative.
“Micro-garden
technology has the possibility to create job in the cities for women and
youths, and to address food and nutrition security in urban areas.”
According
to reports, the FAO, in collaboration with the city of Milan in Italy has
“successfully introduced micro-gardens and urban agriculture in over one
thousand major cities in the world, to which farmers and even school children
have benefited through training and other forms of support.
The
initiative being introduced and supported in The Gambia will neatly complement
Government’s drive in diversification, food security, poverty reduction, rural
development and economic growth.
However,
as the FAO assists the farming communities by improving their production and
productivity in order to be self-sufficient in food - as well as have some
source of generating income - it should also be borne in mind that production
and productivity is not enough to improve the condition of the low-income
farmers.
Assisting
the farming communities also to create marketing opportunities for their
produce would go a long way in bringing them out of severe poverty in this
country.
“Gardening
is a matter of your enthusiasm holding up until your back gets used to it.”
Author
Unknown
