By Basiru Fofana
The Department of Agriculture on Saturday, 13th July, 2019 conducted an induction training session for its fifty-four newly appointed staff.
Held at the Jenoi Agricultural Farmers’ Training Centre in Jarra Jenoi, Lower River Region (LRR), the objective of the induction was to equip the fifty-four newly appointed members of staff with tools and knowledge for better understanding of the various departments, as well as the agricultural extension system in The Gambia. This was informed by the fact that, “not everything can be find in the books”.
The induction training also serves as an opportunity to expose the trainees to “agriculture life” out there in the field so that they can deliver better towards the development of the agricultural sector.
In his opening speech, the Deputy Director General (DDG) of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Sariang M.K Jobarteh indicated that the induction training is a way to introduce and guide the newly appointees into the agricultural work life, including their roles and responsibilities towards their various field tasks. He described that induction training as the first of its kind for many years in their Department.
While exhorting the participants to make best use of it, DDG Jobarteh informed the ceremony audience that facilitators of the training were all veteran agriculturists with long time field and administrative experiences, from the colonial time to date. The inductees were encouraged to ask as many questions as possible in order to clear any doubts they might have.
The administrative Director of the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Ebou Mendy described the training as “a way of knowledge transfer” from the veterans to the department’s newly appointed staff. Since most of these veterans {agriculturists} have already retired, he believed it’s up to the young ones to fill the void.
Director Mendy further noted that the training was a way of exposing new staff to their various roles and responsibilities which would better prepare them to deliver as extension agents in the field.
Also at the service of the gathered inductees of the department of Agriculture, was the Deputy Permanent Secretary for Programme and Policies at the Personnel Management Office (PMO), Mr. Famara Kuyateh.
In his exposition, the senior official expounded on the PMO’s roles and responsibilities, the concept and meaning of the General Orders (GOs), and the regulatory instruments. This was to ensure that these newly appointed agricultural officials know what is expected from them, and are also aware of the penalties for failure to abide by the GO in the Public Service of The Gambia.
