By Alhagie Babou Jallow
The executive committee members of Kerr Jarga “HamHamleh” Women group of Jokadou village have hailed Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) for their immense contribution toward the development of women through skills acquisition and providing them with energy efficiency cooking stoves, woodlot and tree nursery.
The group mainly focuses on tie & dye, batik, sewing, environmental protection and soil conservation practices to boost food production and productivity. The overall objective of the Community Based Organization is to empower women to effectively participate in socio economic through livelihood development and contribute to poverty reduction.
Mariama Gaye, president of the group applauded women and development partners for their immense contribution to livelihood skill development and food diversification and value chain to enhance income.
She noted that the intervention of Njawara Agricultural Training Centre with energy efficiency cooking stoves has contributed immensely in promoting health of women and girls and reduced burden of collecting large stock of fuel wood. Madam Gaye said the initiative of providing them with community woodlot and energy efficiency would contribute to mitigate climate change and resilience building.
The group leader used the moment to launch appeal to development organizations and institutions to support them with capacity development on entrepreneurship, marketing, lobbying, networking and equipment to boost food production, processing and packaging of maize and coos finish product.
Bai Jassey, secretary to the group thanked Alieu Cham for providing 100 x 100msq lands for the establishment of community woodlot to contribute to restoration of forest cover and ease fuel wood collection and other building materials in due course.
Ramou Saine, skills trainer at Kerr Jarga Jobe HamHamleh group said women are trained on processing maize, coos and groundnut to promote value chain addition. She said Kerr Jarga Skill Centre has provided numerous trainings for women in the village on tie & dye, soap making, batik among others. Madam Saine noted that since the establishment of centre in 2005, the group has a membership of 106 which includes (20men and 86 women). It has also fostered greater understanding, cooperation in enhancing skill acquisition and self-reliance.
