Africa-Press – Gambia. The communities of Toroba and Njie Kunda in Lower Badibou, North Bank Region, have expressed gratitude to ActionAid International The Gambia, and the European Union (EU) for supporting the establishment of a five-hectare vegetable garden for women farmers under the Strengthening Civil Society Organizations Support and Advocacy for Sustainable Production (SAPOF) project.
The initiative, funded by the EU through ActionAid, aims to promote sustainable agriculture, enhance women’s economic empowerment, and improve household nutrition across rural communities.
Speaking during a visit to the garden, Bubacarr Bah, representative of the alkalo of Toroba, and Ismaila Bah, chairman of the Village Development Committee (VDC), described the garden as a major milestone in strengthening women’s capacity in vegetable production and contributing to food and nutritional security.
They commended ActionAid and its partners for the intervention, which they said will go a long way in improving the livelihoods of women and their families. The community leaders assured their continued support to the women gardeners and appealed to the Department of Agriculture to assist with improved seed varieties and training on modern cultivation techniques.
One of the beneficiaries, Sainabou Ceesay, said the garden has not only boosted women’s income but also enhanced household nutrition and reduced economic dependency on men.
She added that the project has empowered women and girls to contribute meaningfully to community development and reduced gender-based tensions.
Fatou Ndow of Njie Kunda also thanked the people of Toroba for providing land to accommodate women from her village, describing the initiative as a symbol of solidarity and unity. She said the garden has transformed the lives and social activities of women and pledged their commitment to maintaining and sustaining the facility.
Babou Nyass, the SAPOF Project Focal Person at the Njawara Agricultural Training Centre, expressed satisfaction with the level of women’s participation in vegetable production and their adoption of organic farming practices. He assured that the Centre will continue to provide regular mentoring and technical support to enhance productivity and ensure long-term sustainability.
The five-hectare garden is part of ActionAid’s broader effort to empower rural women and promote climate-resilient livelihoods through sustainable agricultural initiatives across The Gambia.
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