The event, held on Tuesday 24 September 2024, was centred on the theme: “Efficient and Sustainable Irrigation Systems for a Climate Change Resilient Agriculture” that contributes to food and nutrition security and economic growth in the Sahel and West Africa.
The Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) is an organization mandated to invest in research for food security and the fight against the effects of drought and desertification for a new ecological balance in the Sahel.
Fatou Jammeh Touray, deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the importance of the occasion and stated that for more than half a century, CILSS strongly supported states and populations of the Sahel and West Africa by setting up mechanisms, instruments, and tools, which “today makes it possible to better understand and effectively face” the challenges of sustainable development in the regions.
DPS Touray alluded to this year's theme, in which she noted the importance of water and education. “We must talk about the efficient use of water,” she points out one.“And the best way of using efficient use of water is to go in for drip irrigation.”
She said the vision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security is to improve food security and the security of farmers in terms of livelihood.
“We want to see our farmers secured in terms of income and this can only be possible when we come together as relevant stockholders to do things the way it's supposed to be in a sustainable manner,” she remarked.
Momodou Darboe, director general of Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency, discussed climate change and how it could be mitigated.
While the aim and objective of the CILSS is to control drought in the Sahel, Mr Darboe saidthe Sahel countries “normally encounter a lot of problems,” although a lot of projects also emanated from the CILSS which “the Ministry of Agriculture is benefiting from”.
The GLMA director general urged stakeholders to look into the challenges and recommended solutions or apt measures and abide by them.
