The garden project, which is a three-year EU project financed to the tune of 3M under the Banjul-Oostende link for the rehabilitation of the Crab Island school to a multipurpose center, also covers a half -hectare vegetable garden component with about 50 meters by 95 meters demarcated among women in the area.
As planned, about 255 beds of 2 meters by 5 meters is identified where each woman will occupy 10 beds for production.
Also, the first phase of the project covers 25 women who benefitted from the project out of 55 women within the community currently on standby.
The garden is being coordinated and controlled by officials at the Banjul City Council. An office for the gardeners is also under rehabilitation at the Crab Island premises.
Speaking at the event, Bintou Ceesay, one of the beneficiaries, thanked the Deputy Mayor for his concern and stance for the welfare of women of Banjul, saying she was not part of the gardeners before the Covid-19 pandemic, but observed that women encountered numerous challenges which includes water stagnation especially during the rainy season.
She recalled that sometime back, gardeners would face so much challenges like water shortages, but commended the Deputy Mayor for the provision of the borehole to ensure the provision of sufficient water supply for the gardeners.
For her part, Nyima Touray, another concerned individual, lamented the some of the shortcomings they used to encounter due to water shortages.
She noted now with the availability of a borehole, their hopes are high that they will overcome some of these challenges to increase their productivity.
She thanked the Ward Councilor for his intervention and foresight, which she described as a great move in addressing the plight of women at Crab Island Ward.
Bakary Jarju, garden manager, who is an agricultural expert, described the move as one in the right direction.
