NACOFAG to host regional convention

By Maimuna Sey-Jawo The National Coordinating Organization for Farmers Association The Gambia (NACOFAG), a network of farmers and community forest organisation in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture is expected to host an international forum, organised by the network of Peasants and Producers Association of West Africa (ROPPA) from the 1-4 December and the African Union Commission on the 28-30 November at the Paradise Suites Hotel. This regional convention is expected to bring about 250 national and international delegates from 15 West African countries, other parts of Africa and major partners of ROPPA such as IFAD, ECOWAS, CORAF/WECARD, ADB,AU,AFD,FAO among others to talk about family farming, seed, youth migration and agricultural funding among other related issues . Speaking during a recent press briefing on the matter, the president of NACOFAG Musa Sowe said this is the first time The Gambia will host this event which is held every four yeas. He said the forum is designed to feature 5-side event of different themes; namely, seed issue, rural land markets in West Africa, Youth migration and agricultural funding, territorial food and nutrition system, and decade of family farming. According to Sowe 70% of agricultural production comes from family farms, thus this forum comes at a right time, adding that family farming encounters many difficulties in accessing quality seed imputs. Alieu Sowe, the NACOFAG coordinator spoke at length on the significance of the forum, saying that they are expecting the Gambian leader to preside over the official opening since it is the first time such big meeting is happening in The Gambia He described the forum as the first of its kind and added that NACOFAG needs 3.5 million to host this forum, and was happy to thank Nema, FASDEP, GCAV, and others for supporting them to make this event successful.]]>