Agric Ministry Gives FSCA a Pat on the Back

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture has expressed his ministry’s keen interest in the activities of the Italian-funded project -- Food Security through the Commercialisation of Agriculture (FSCA), saying “so far we are happy with the achievements of the project and hope that the project serves as a good food security model that can be considered by [the Government of The Gambia]”. Sana Dahaba was speaking recently during a four-day training programme on ‘Communication for Development’ organised by the FSCA, for communicators and media practitioners, at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point.

The training, centred on communication for development, was part of the four components of the FSCA. This fourth component is a three-year Italian-funded project being implemented in two regions – North Bank Region and Central River Region. It is aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, market output and incomes of project beneficiary farmer-based organisations, and small-scale agro-processors on a sustainable basis, resulting in improved livelihoods and food security. For Mr Dahaba, the government places food security high on its development agenda. He said the country has the “potential and opportunities to address food security issues in the ANR sector as a whole if we put in place the right policies and the right intervention”. The policies, he says, is to include the use of an “efficient communication programme”, adding that discipline has always played a decisive role in promoting human development.

Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep While giving the Italian-funded project – FSCA -- a pat on the back for organising the training, Mr Dahaba was quick to pinpoint communication as society’s greatest tool to promote technological improvements through research and extension services. “Through the agricultural extension service and the agricultural communication unit, we have created awareness, changed attitudes and improved farmers’ practices in crop and livestock production,” he says. “Let me thank the Italian government and the FAO for supporting the food security efforts in West Africa.” Dr Babagano Ahmadu, country representative for Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says capacity development is at the heart of FAO’s mandate, hence its vision of strengthening the national capacities of member countries to achieve their own goals in food security and agricultural development. While he recognises the importance of engaging the media as an important partner in development, Dr Ahmadu notes that communication is a driver of change and a key factor for development. Climate change and the current food crisis call for new approaches to foster sustainable solution, hence the reason for organising the training by FSCA.

The project is helping rural Gambian women to become food secured “As we highly appreciate the important role of the Media throughout the implementation of the FAO-FSCA communication strategy, we believe that the participation of these young men and women in this training will make them more efficient in their work,” he said. According to the trainer, who is also a communication and development officer for the FAO in Rome, technology has improved the life of humankind. He however said caution is needed to avoid losing the communication dimension, which serves as “the foundation of our human relationships”. “We have an important role to play in recognising communication is an investment, not a cost, to ensure that communication receives the needed attention in our day to day work,” he says, adding that despite the revolution in technology, many farmers in rural Africa still fail to benefit from this change, mainly as a result of lack of communication.