The project, supported by the British High Commission, Banjul, is designed to establish agro-forestry demonstration plots in selected communities, thus showcasing the benefits and techniques of integrating trees with crops. It also seeks to provide necessary training and capacity-building initiatives targeting farmers and community members on agro-forestry techniques on sustainable land management practices, and climate change adaptation strategies. The project, which commences in October 2023 will end in September 2024.
It will be implemented in five communities within the North Bank Region of The Gambia and will be followed by a participatory and community-centered approach, engaging local farmers, community leaders, and relevant stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
Samba Faye, project Director and Executive Director of Plantation Nurseries, explained that the project intends to combat climate change in all regions within the Gambia.
“This project is not only looking at tree planting exercises but it also has a component that deals with educating farmers on how to maintain and combat climate change resilience. North Bank is the most vulnerable region in The Gambia when it comes to climate change. We aim to transform the whole region into a climate resilience community and at the same time serve as an example to other regions within the Gambia and beyond.” Mr. Faye said.
Omar Mbye, project coordinator revealed that the project has two components, one of which is to combat climate change through the planting of more trees and the second component is to help farmers venture into wildlife farming.
“Combating climate change is very important but we also want to increase the level of earnings of farmers by introducing wildlife farming. Where farmers will be provided with animals to rear,” he said.
He called on communities to understand the fact that the project belongs to them and they need to take it as theirs. “We would have come up with the modalities of how we want to implement the project but we decided to visit you and engage you so that you can take ownership of the project.”
Madam Fatou Jeng, community engagement officer of the CERA Project, expressed delight to be part of the project in view of the fact that it has a component that deals with women’s participation.
“We all believe that women are the backbone of successful projects and the women are the most affected people when it comes to climate change because it reduces their level of earnings,” she said.
