Africa-Press – Gambia. Scores of women vegetable gardeners in Sanyang, Kombo South District, have raised concerns over insufficient support from both the Village Development Committee (VDC) and state institutions, citing challenges in sustaining and expanding their gardens.
The women, whose produce primarily supports their families’ livelihoods, said their gardens have been affected by stray animals, limited water supply, and a lack of fertilizer.
In an interview over the weekend, Fatou Conteh described the financial strain faced by women gardeners. “We are very vulnerable as women gardeners. We spend significant energy on our gardens but receive minimal financial returns. I spent over D20,000 to fence my garden and pay labourers to dig a well to water my crops. We simply ask the VDC to assist with fencing and water supply to sustain our livelihoods,” she said.
Binta Saidy also accused a nearby fishmeal processing factory of damaging crops. She said the factory’s emissions attract whiteflies that destroy vegetables and emit odours that force farmers to abandon their fields. “Whenever the factory is in operation, we cannot tend our fields. Complaints to authorities have yielded no action,” she added.
Sheriff Bojang, a staff member of Nessim Fishmeal Factory, denied the allegations, stating that the factory complies with all environmental regulations and has contributed millions of dalasi to local community projects. “These allegations are baseless. No scientific study has confirmed that flies harming crops originate from our operations,” he said.
Fatou Gibba, a local restaurant owner, also expressed concern over the impact of the factory on small businesses. “In the past, we cooked nearly two bags of rice daily for customers. Now, many abandon their plates due to the factory’s odour,” she said.
The women gardeners continue to call on local and state authorities for concrete support to safeguard their crops and livelihoods.
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