Members of the community horticultural garden in Nema Fass saved over three million Dalasi at the end of the first seasonal harvest. This was revealed during a visit by President Adama Barrow while on the fourth day of the annual President’s Meet the People tour.
President Adama Barrow expressed his excitement and admiration for the group’s ability to save up to D3 million in one season, after a thorough engagement with the gardeners on their success story.
While encouraging them to continue working hard and not to rest on their laurels, he promised that his cabinet will initiate new value addition mechanisms to enable producers control the market price.
Fass vegetable garden is the CRRN is 4 hectares, a membership of 81 men and 276 women. Each member owns 5 beds of 1m x 10m. It is supported by FASDEF to ensure all year round reliable water supply for sustainable vegetable production.
According to the women’s leader, they need more modern technologies, such as sprinters, to ease the labour as well as marketing and storage facilities. In the interim, they are making use of information technology to access information about market prices in urban areas.
Agriculture Minister told reporters at the garden that the model gardening considered sustainability in providing solid fencing and water source and they are working with potential investors in agriculture to open regular markets for the gardeners.
Source: State House of The Gambia
