Abuko, The Gambia – September 25, 2024 – In a significant meeting held today at the office of the Master Farmers’ Cooperative Association (MaFCA) in Abuko, representatives from MaFCA and the Global Youth Innovation Network (GYIN) Gambia Chapter discussed a potential project aimed at enhancing maize production in The Gambia. This initiative, proposed as a collaboration between the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and GYIN Gambia, seeks to support maize-producing farmers and address agricultural challenges through community engagement. The MaFCA, a respected organization with approximately 200 members including men, women, and youth from across the nation, was represented by key figures such as Mr. Lamin Bajo, Technical Adviser of Master Farmers, Aja Gas Ceesay, Ali Touray among others.
Mamadou Edrisa Njie, Executive Director of GYIN Gambia Chapter, thanked the MaFCA for hosting the meeting and outlined the proposed project, stating, “Our partnership with COL will profile 3,000 farmers and establish a Learning, Innovation, and Development Platform (LINDEP), providing essential training and resources.” The initiative would encompass farmer profiling, the creation of tailored educational content, digital training via WhatsApp groups, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation. He emphasized that GYIN’s role would be facilitating connections and communication between farmers, suppliers, buyers, and researchers.
Mr. Njie affirmed, “We’re committed to working hand-in-hand with Master Farmers to ensure this project not only succeeds but also provides sustainable livelihoods. By uniting different stakeholders in the maize value chain, we’re building a resilient agricultural ecosystem that will propel The Gambia forward.”
During the discussions, the Master Farmers shared their wealth of knowledge in maize cultivation and insights from previous large-scale collaborations. They expressed interest in the project’s potential, emphasizing the importance of quality in agricultural production.
Ali Touray, a respected MaFCA member, highlighted a critical need: “Three months cannot feed 12 months; we need year-round production.” This call for sustainable, year-round farming resonated strongly, with farmers discussing the possibility of extending maize cultivation beyond the rainy season, given appropriate support and access to fertilizer and fair market conditions.
As the meeting concluded, both parties expressed optimism about the potential collaboration. The Master Farmers’ aspiration toward year-round production, combined with the support from COL and GYIN Gambia, lays the foundation for what could become a transformative era in Gambian agriculture.
This collaboration would promise to tackle key challenges in maize production while leveraging local expertise, potentially ushering in a new chapter of agricultural innovation in The Gambia. By focusing on quality, sustainability, and equitable practices, this collaboration between COL, GYIN Gambia, and the Master Farmers’ Cooperative Association is poised to revolutionize maize production, bolstering food security and enhancing livelihoods for farmers throughout the country.