The Njawara
Agricultural Training Centre NATC in partnership with Agency for the
Development of Women and Children, ADWAC, with support from Solidarity for
Agriculture SOLIDAGRO recently held a three-day training course for 54
vegetable growers of the network on marketing concepts, management and
operations and regulatory framework, process and requirement.
Speaking on the occasion, Mama Manneh, director of the Njawara Agricultural Training Centre, noted that SOLIDAGRO attaches great importance in the capacity development of vegetable growers to enhance production and productivity.
He called on vegetable growers to be proactive, noting that NATC and ADWAC would support linking the network with microfinance institutions, to enhance incomes and the marketing of horticultural products.
The NATC official said both organizations would support strengthening the capacity of network members, to make them more effective and responsive to marketing of horticultural products and to determine their own prices.
Aja Haddy Panneh, alkalo of Njawara, lauded women for their contribution to food production and nutrition security in households.
She said women are faced with marketing constraints of their vegetables, and called on women to be proactive in building networks for marketing of their produce.
According to the alkalo, the formation of the network on marketing would contribute to empower women to determine the prices of the products and, by extension, contribute to poverty reduction.
She challenged women to support NATC and ADWAC in attaining food self-sufficiency, and the marketing of their horticultural products.
Ousman Ceesay, project coordinator SOLIDAGRO ADWAC, dilated on the social mobilization and management structure and the coordinator of the network, geared toward ensuring effective operation of the network.
He said the formation of vegetable growers’ networks on marketing of horticultural products would increase farmers’ capacity to enhance production.
Mariama Sonko, president of newly-elected Vegetable Growers Networks, thanked women for their support and assured them of the executive’s commitment to the welfare of women.