By Yero S. Bah
Mr. Omar Jabang, founder of the Naffa Food Processing Company in Kitty village, West Coast Region (WCR) has told this medium that they are processing locally-grown cereals into [finished] products that offer quality nutritional benefits to residents.
In a WhatsApp chat with this reporter, Jabang dilated on numerous issues regarding his food processing business, the creation of which, as deduced from his explanation, was motivated by the desire to prevent post-harvest loss in the country, and to a greater extent, reduce the importation of nutrilac products into the Gambia-so that Gambians could use their own produce.
“The food processing business is taking a lead gradually in the country, and [it] will help the nation to develop agriculture while encouraging farmers,” the head of Naffa Food Processing argued. Jabang believes funding support would allow him to acquire the required processing facilities, mitigate high transportation cost, ameliorate the inadequate public support for “Made in the Gambia” products. That, he maintained, would help in empowering Gambian farmers and promote local cereals, thereby encouraging local consumption of Gambian made products.
“My clients are family members, daycare centers, supplementary centers as well as individual households,” the young Agropreneur told Mansa Banko Online, adding his product is ‘Dukula’ [a flour grain used in making porridge]. The Naffa Processing boss said he conducts sales delivery services to customers and usually share cookery tips on the product, as he affirmed his product to be good for both “infants and adults”. He added the contents of all the major food substances as well as the products could last for one year without getting spoiled in cool dry environment.
But one of the challenges Jabang’s business is facing, as he cited, is the unavailability of processing facilities at his production site, hence the attendant transportation problem; he pointed out that transportation of the products from the milling machine is not an easy task and it’s expensive. He said marketing is also hindered by the notion that ‘Made in The Gambia’ products are inferior to imported ones.
Jabang explained: “We created a Facebook page for easy marketing and more updates on WhatsApp status. We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a taxi driver to be doing our major deliveries. He used the opportunity to enjoin Gambian entrepreneurs to be hard-working and determined enough, in order to be successful in their entrepreneurial journey.
Equally, he wants the Gambian authorities concerned to be creating the enabling environment for small-scale businesses to expand their business activities by supporting their initiatives.
Jabang rounded off by reminding the youth that they are the present and future of the country, and therefore, need to work hard to be self-employed, in order to bring about economic development.
