By: Aja Beyai
Cooperazione Internazionale Sud Sud (CISS), an international NGO, hosted a public awareness-raising event on sustainable agriculture in Bwiam, Foni Kansala District, West Coast Region, over the weekend. The gathering was part of the EU-funded Green 2 Growth Gambia Project, which seeks to advance eco-friendly farming practices and improve environmental health across the country.
The project’s broader goal is to empower Gambian civil society organizations (CSOs) as key players in good governance. It encourages their involvement in policy dialogue, implementation, and monitoring of EU and national development programs aimed at achieving sustainable socio-ecological transformation in the food system through the widespread adoption of organic fertilizers.
The event drew community members, smallholder farmers, and various stakeholders to discuss the advantages of organic fertilizers over chemical alternatives. Lucia Palmidi, the project’s representative, highlighted efforts to bolster CSO advocacy for the local production and use of organic fertilizers.
Key project components include promoting organic alternatives to reduce health risks from chemical fertilizers and empowering women and youth in smallholder farming. The initiative targets 700 smallholder farmers, entrepreneurs, and cooperatives nationwide.
Paramount Chief of Foni Kansala, Ali Nyassi, welcomed the project and called on community members to actively support its success. Ismaila Jallow, Deputy Chairman of the Brikama Area Council, commended the initiative, stressing the dangers of chemical fertilizers and the value of organic manure. He pledged full council backing.
Representatives from the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), Ebrima Jallow, and Fatoumata Jammeh Touray from the Ministry of Agriculture underscored the benefits of organic fertilizers, including enhanced soil structure and reduced environmental impact.
The Gambian government, they said, has shown a strong commitment by procuring thousands of tons of organic fertilizer for distribution to farmers and implementing a policy of zero chemical fertilizers in new community gardens.
Organizers hope the event will encourage communities to embrace sustainable agricultural practices, fostering long-term environmental health and resilient farming in The Gambia.
