North Bank Region in collaboration with the regional agricultural directorate in Kerewan with support from Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP) recently organised a consultative meeting with vegetable growers and frontline extension workers to review progress and challenges on marketing and involvement of middle men in buying of vegetables.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Saikou E. Sanyang, Regional Agriculture Director, underscored the importance the department of agriculture attached in empowering farmers’ capacity in marketing and negotiating prices for their vegetable and farm products.
He said the initiative aimed at ensuring that vegetable growers and middle men have broader understanding on the marketing of vegetables to ensure fair pricing.
Dr Sanyang lauded the effort of women at Suntunkung Drammeh Garden in Kerewan for their support to adoption of best agricultural practices, citing the use of organic mature and spacing of plant.
The NBR agric boss noted that the move would contribute to enhance income and contribute to poverty reduction.
Kemo Jabbi Gassama thanked regional agricultural directorate for building farmers capacity in food production and diversification to enhance socio-economic development.
He also thanked women farmers for complementing President Jammeh’s drive to food self-sufficiency and poverty reduction.
Jonsaba Jawara, President of Suntunkung Drammeh garden, commended LHDP and agric directorate for building farmers capacity on best agronomic practices and marketing strategies.
She said the skill had supported to build mutual understanding and information sharing on best practices.
Dilating on the involvement of middle men in marketing, she said, the strategies help to have better price and income on vegetable.
Modou Darboe, Regional Livestock Director and LHDP Focal Point, applauded farmers for the effective application of skills learnt.
He said empowering farmers to take lead to determine price contribute to the overall objective of LHDP and department of agriculture to attain food self-sufficiency.
The Regional Livestock boss called on farmers to be proactive and building synergy with other farmers to enhance common market price of products.
Farmers at the consultative meeting agreed to introduce the use of scale to weight garden produce, noting that it would increase income.
