The US Peace Corps programme manager on Agriculture and Environment has spoken of Peace Corps’ commitment in complementing government’s efforts in the attainment of national food security and poverty reduction.
Saikou Njie was speaking recently at a farmer field day at Toroba, North Bank Region.
He said Peace Corps Food Security aims to support volunteers to improve production, processing of agricultural products, and diversifying production.
The master farmer concept would enhance the use of appropriate and improved agricultural and agro-forestry technologies to better support their families through increased grains and vegetables and increased income through sales of cultivated produce.
He lauded the effort of Momodou Loum, a master farmer, for his foresight in promoting agro-forestry, poultry and horticulture.
The Peace Corps were proud to hold their first-ever master farmer field day at Toroba and the vision of the concept was to have master farmer in each district to enhance sharing and learning of best agricultural practices in good variety of tree nursery mango, pawpaw and other tree species.
Dr Saikou E. Sanyang, regional agricultural director for NBR, thanked Peace Corps for their support to farmers in food diversification and environmental protection.
He said the field day would empower them to adopt best agricultural practices to enhance food production and productivity.
The NBR agric boss calls on the youth to take up farming as a business, while challenging those in the region to emulate Momodou Loum.
He said the active participation of the youth in agriculture would promote food self-sufficiency and sustainable environmental protection and conservation.
Momodou Loum, a master farmer, thanked Peace Corps for providing adequate fencing materials and for strengthening water supply system to enhance production.
He noted that the support would contribute immensely to food diversification and transferring of skills to farmers.