NATC praises SDF, GTTI for building youth capacity on horticulture NATC Youth on the farm for practical work By Haruna Kuyateh in NBR The director of Njawara Agricultural Training Centrein the North Bank Regionhas underscored the importance the Centre attaches to capacity development of farmers and youths on horticulture and adoption of best agricultural practices. Mr. Mama Manneh was speaking exclusively to BAJ-Gambia eNewsletter on the farm in Njawarawere trainees that are undergoing a two-yearcourse on horticulture with support from Social Development Fund. The course was designed by Gambia Technical Training Instituteand coordinated by Njawara Agricultural Training Centre. “The partnership agreement between the three institutions would contribute immensely to enhancing the capacity of youths and promote government’s call for back-to-land,” Mr Manneh said. The NATC director said the course was in line with National Training Authority NTA approved modules. The students spent 75 percent of their time on practical works. This gives them an environment to interact and shared knowledge. He lauded the skill and qualification unit of the GTTI for their recent monitoring visit, noting that it has demonstrated their commitment to the attainment quality skill transfer. “NATC does periodic assessment on the modules to gauge the understanding of students on both theory and practical aspect,”DirectorManneh added. Momodou Baldeh, trainee farm manager on horticulture said the training accorded them opportunity to learn new skills on horticulture, pest and disease management and marketing concepts. He commended Njawara Agricultural training Centre for facilitating the students’ attachment to community gardens. This, he added, enabled them to share experience with vegetable growers on adoption of best agricultural practise to enhance production and productivity. Ousman Manneh a trainee from Brikama in West Coast Regionsaid skills acquisition is crucial in human development and contributes to self reliance. MuhamedBaldeh Trainee Poultry Farm Manager said promoting poultry production would contribute to food diversification and enhance incomes and by extension nutritional development of farmers. “Poultry production creates jobopportunities, increases income and the end products can be used as farm yard manure,” he explained. He however noted that poor housing, inadequate feed, lack of vaccine and mixer of feed machine may retard poultry production. Alagie Ceesay of Madina Duta Wally of CRR South and FatoumataBaldeh of Bansang town in Central River Region South applauded SDF and GTTI for their foresight in providing training opportunities for youths in horticulture. The trainees noted that horticulture production contributes to enhance income and poverty reduction. However female student expressed concerns over land ownership and control may retard their participation and calls on SDF to support them in this area to enable them utilize their skills and boost income. The trainee calls on authorities to support them to further their skills in other tertiary institutions like Gambia College at the end of their 2-year training. Jariatou Jallow of Soma, JonfoloSaho of Nyakoi Kerewan and Mariama Jammeh of Farafenni made similar remarks and said the practical session on horticulture helped them to advocate for timely sowing, planting, proper fertilizer application, pest and disease management, weeding and turning and concept of manure tea using leguminous leaves and cow dung. The ladies called on their fellow peers to take up agricultural skills to enhance self reliance and contribute to quality vegetable production. Meanwhile, the training covers horticulture, poultry keeping, business management, pest and disease management, nutrition, Information Technology, maths and English to enhance and maximise production and productivity.
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 14:25:38 +0000