By Isatou Jawara
The Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) in partnership with United Purpose (UP) project which doubles as Innovation for Climate Smart Agriculture at Small Holders’ Scale in West Africa (GCCA+WA) recently launched the North Regional Value Chain Actors Platform in Farafenni.
The project funded by European Union (EU) introduces appropriate Climate-Smart Techniques and Technologies to Smallholder Family Farmers and Processors. It will help to develop a business model to enable the production of more crops and build resilience against the sweeping effects of Climate Change.
Mrs. Mama Manneh, The Executive Director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre, described the launching as “another milestone in strengthening the farmers’ capacity for food production cycles and accelerating market opportunities’’.
She said the rationale behind the platform came as a result of successes registered by the NBR Marketing Federation commonly known as SOLICITA in creating marketing and preservation of products.
Director Manneh used the opportunity to call on agricultural projects and NGOs operating in the region to work with the established structures, with the ultimate view of maximizing resources and strengthening their capacity in value chain production.
In launching the project, Mr. Musa Kanteh, Deputy Governor of the NBR underscored the government’s commitment to creating space for NGOs in complementing development efforts in transforming and enhancing the lives and livelihood of people. He urged them to work as one family, as they play an important part in promoting the value chain of farm produce/products.
The Deputy Governor thanked the donor partners for the construction of office space for the SOLICITA Marketing Federation and Processing Centre in Kerewan. This, he said, will help to address post-harvest losses.
Mr. Lamin Manjang, Project Manager at United Purpose said the platform will help address challenges faced by producers, input dealers, transporters, traders and consumers.
He noted that the project provided a series of capacity enhancements to promote communication and networking. The project plans to launch digital market information systems to help value chain actors to monitor and supply the market with the right products.
Mr. John Mendy, Regional Agricultural Director for NBR thanked Njawara Agricultural Training Centre and United Purpose through EU for complementing the Department of Agriculture.
