The event, which is the third of its kind, is expected to bring together over 175 delegates from 14 countries of ECOWAS Member States.
The theme of this year’s caravan is, “Right to Land, Water and peasant agro-ecology, a common struggle”.
The objective of the forthcoming event is to contribute in strengthening grassroots communities to engage decision-makers to improve policies and legislation with the involvement of traditional customary leaders for inclusive, progressive, fair and equitable governance both at national and regional levels on land, water and seeds.
At the press briefing held in NACOFAG office in Brikama, Musa F. Sowe, president of the association, explained that the caravan would take account of social transformation in West Africa by taking into account family farming, based on peasant agro-ecology for food sovereignty, to further strengthen it.
The caravan, he added, would help to raise the awareness of the communities in the stopover towns and cities of the different itinerary countries on the issues and challenges related to the environment, land, water and seeds and the need to preserve them for present and future generations.
NACOFAG president further indicated that the caravan will sensitise communities on the dangers of climate change, artificial seeds (GMOs), pesticides and the need to set up common farmer-seed banks and adopt agro-ecological practices in the respective localities.
“On November 20 to the 21st, Gambia will host the event at the Governor office in the West Coast Region, and the caravan will depart from the Gambia, travel through Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea to Sierra Leone, the final destination where the advocacy documents of the CGLTE OA will be handed over to the ECOWAS Chairman.”
“A major workshop will be held to synthesise the activities and debates that took place during the caravan and a final declaration will be issued. The closing ceremony of the caravan will include the official handing over of the advocacy documents to the president of Sierra Leone, the final destination Country of the 2021 caravan in Freetown.” he explains.
He also explained that among the expected outcomes of the caravan is that the population of the 17 stopover towns of the five itinerary countries of the caravan and those joining the caravan, are sensitised on the stakes of Land, Water, Peasant seeds and mobilise to take up the challenge for the present and future generations.
“The dangers of artificial seed and pesticides are better known by the peasant communities and they decided to set up common peasant seed banks and to adopt agro-ecological practices in their respective localities.”
Other speakers included Njaga Jawo director of NAWFA and Francis Mendy, director of Caritas, who both welcomed the caravan, saying seed, water and land are all important in life and for agricultural Production as well.
