TGSB in collaboration with the West Africa Competitive Programme (WACOMP) developed a framework for the development of National Standards for onion and its related value chain. The programme is funded by the European Union (EU) under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
WACOMP seeks to increase competitiveness through enhanced quality and compliance along the tomato and pepper value chain, improve the performance, growth and contribution to the industry, regional trade and exports of selected value chains and improve the climate for business at national and international levels.
Speaking at the opening ceremony held at Brikama, Saikou Drammeh, standard officer for Food and Agricultural Products of TGSB explained that they are currently receiving public commenting on the draft Gambian standards that are currently under development. He stated that TGSB is developing national standards on the tomato and pepper value chain.
He further stated that the technical committee responsible for the development of food and agricultural standards of the bureau has drafted about eight standards on the tomato and pepper value chain.
He said: “Part of our standards development procedures is to go around the country to meet technical experts across the regions to solicit their comment on the draft standards. Standard development is usually done through a technical committee but we feel that other relevant stakeholders can add vital inputs on the drafts.”
Drammeh continued that after the public comment, they would converge at a technical committee meeting to review the comments from experts, adding that they will then send the standards for approval and gazetting by the Ministry of Justice.
Mutarr Seckan, certification officer at TGSB said his institution is solely responsible for the development of national standards, thus highlighting that there are procedures to be followed in developing these standards. He added that they are collaborating with WACOMP to make sure they develop a standard in this sector to avail farmers the opportunity to be able to market their products nationally and internationally without any technical barriers.
“The standards will help the sector because most of our farmers are complaining about lack of markets and to mitigate that, they have to comply with these standards. All the standards we are developing comply with the international best practices,” he stated.
Participants at the regional meeting included technical experts from the Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Quality Assurance Authority, Producers and Consumer Associations.
