As part of activities marking the International Women's Day, the National Women's Council in collaboration with the Ministry of Women's affairs coordinated by the women's Bureau, yesterday organised an exhibition (LUMO) site at Paradise Suites Hotel.
Deputizing for the Vice president and Minister for Women Affairs, Dr. Aja Isatou Njie Saidy, the Minister for Tourism, Ms Nancy Njie said the objective of the exhibition is to provide women of all categories with the opportunity to showcase their skills, share best practices and also provide a market for the sale of their products.
"You will agree with me that we are at a time when women engage in vegetable production, poultry farming and fruit selling find it difficult to sell", she said.
Vegetables, small ruminants and local poultry production in the Gambia, Minister Njie noted is mainly done by women and they continue to be the principal producers for the homes and local markets operating as individuals and communal producers, mostly living in the rural areas. She added that lack of adequate knowledge and skills dictates women operating as subsistence farmers. "Skills and knowledge development must continue to be centre stage in our policies and in this area, attitudinal change is also required from the women themselves.
For her part the chairperson, National Women's Council, Mrs. Fatou Mbai indicated that the exhibition other wise locally known as "LUMO" or open market is an improved version in style, quality and organization.
Mbai however revealed that the women's Bureau has registered over 100 individuals and organization that are participating in this exhibition. "LUMO" and their products, she added, ranges from fashionable dresses, fresh foods - vegetables, fish, meat, processed foods, hands and craft etc". She promised that all the products will be sold at reduced and competitive prizes to enable the women to maximize sales.
