By Mamadou Edrisa Njie
A Gambian-owned Enterprise dubbed AgriTech Enterprise, that is set up to provide solutions to the needs of farmers through the supply of agricultural inputs and general merchandize, has eased the burden of farmers.
Mr. Lamin Badjie, the Manager of AgriTech Enterprise explained to Mansa Banko Online News the breakthroughs of his enterprise barely one year since its establishment.
“Cognizant of the plight and the condition of our farmers, AgriTech is aware of the dwindling production and productivity of the farmers for the past years due to climate change, poor agronomic practices and farm mechanization,” he remarked.
He noted that the low productivity of farmers can be attributed to these key things, which according to him, have compelled the establishment of AgricTech to address the plight of farmers.
Located at Coastal Road in the West Coast Region (WCR), the Enterprise has the capacity to supply the country’s farming community with all the basic equipment and farm mechanization they need.
Blessed with highly trained staffs with vast experience in various fields such as Community Development, Micro Finance and Social Development, AgriTech is able to secure contracts with recognized national institutions such as the National Agricultural Land and Water Management Development (Nema) Project and The Gambia Food and Agricultural Development Project ( FASDEP).
In a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by Nema Project, AgriTech is serving as suppliers of equipment and machinery for its beneficiaries.
Badjie said: “Of recent, the MoU that we signed with Nema Project was to supply rice processing machines and oil pressing machines to 14 youth groups across the country, and; “I can proudly say barely one year in business, we are able to collaborate and partner with big projects like Nema to supply them with equipment which is a value added on our status.”
With 30 years of working experience, Badjie believed that his commitment and dedication paved the way for him to succeed, while calling for more youth participation in agriculture.
His words: “My advice to the youth is to engage in production, processing and marketing of agro products. Youths constitute 60% of the country’s population and they are the backbone of every country. We need to engage them and advocate for them to involve in the Agricultural Value Chain.”
According to him, institutions like Nema Project has the foresight to include youth and women in their project target beneficiaries which enables them to mainstream youth activities in their programs.
The youth, he said, should grab the available opportunities in the country and improve on themselves.
“They have to be proactive and take the lead in their development in order to compel donors to consider their plight,” Badjie said.
