BY Samsideen Ceesay
On account of their jointly funded project dubbed ‘Jokkalante’ , The Gambia Government, through the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment (MOTIE) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) have entered into a cooperation with Contract Farming on agricultural value chain and vegetable productions. The signing ceremony of the agreement was held at the Ministry’s complex in Banjul.
Speaking at the event, Mr Ousman Bojang, Director of Trade, who doubles as the coordinator of Jokkalante project at MOTIE, said the agreement with Contract Farming is timely and that it would avail them the opportunity to support women farmers on vegetable productions.
He added the agreement will ensure that farmers stick to the terms and conditions by The Gambia Horticultural Enterprises (GHE).
The women beneficiaries expressed gratitude and thanked the Jokallanteh Project for the initiative.
Mamud Touray, horticultural consultant at the International Trade Centre noted that Gambia Horticultural Enterprises is willing to buy the vegetable products from identified customers since the agreement with Contract Farming has been signed.
Focusing on the horticultural sector, the Jokkalante project will establish a market-led digital agricultural value chain platform, link horticultural producers, buyers, and other value chain actors to the platform. The project also intends to provide direct support to women farmers, increase coordination, and efficiency in production, storage, and distribution, thereby maximising the gains that can be reaped.