By Assan Bah
Over 30 smallholder farmers from across The Gambia have completed a three-day training organized by ActionAid International The Gambia under the European Union-funded SAPOF Project. The training focused on Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA) and organic fertilizer production, and aimed to equip farmers with practical skills to improve soil health, enhance food security, and build resilience against climate change.
The training, held in Kerewan in the North Bank Region, brought together men and women farmers from the Central River Region North, Central River Region South, and the North Bank Region. It forms part of ActionAid’s broader commitment to promoting agroecology, food sovereignty, and climate justice in rural communities.
Participants engaged in both theoretical and practical sessions, including hands-on demonstrations on how to produce organic fertilizer using locally available materials. The goal, according to organizers, is to reduce dependence on expensive chemical fertilizers and empower farmers with sustainable alternatives.
One of the participants, Dodo Baldeh from Dalaba in Niamina East, expressed appreciation for the training. “My husband and I are both farmers, but we used to struggle to access chemical fertilizer because we couldn’t afford it,” she said. “With this training, I can now make organic fertilizer without costing me a butut.” She added that she would start composting immediately upon returning home.
Fatou Darboe, a participant from Touba Kulong in Upper Niumi, said her community avoids chemical fertilizers because of their cost and negative impact on the soil. “Chemical fertilizers sometimes affect crop germination. With organic fertilizer, we can improve soil health and reduce expenses,” she said. She also pledged to share what she learned with her family and fellow farmers.
Siakou F. Bah, Acting Project Manager for the SAPOF Project, said the three-year initiative aims to promote the production, use, and marketing of organic fertilizer. “We train farmers on how to decompose organic matter and discourage the use of harmful chemical fertilizers and pesticides,” he said. “Many farmers rely on chemicals not by choice, but because they lack knowledge about organic alternatives.”
He emphasized the need for attitudinal change. “Organic fertilizer is practical and sustainable. If you have ten hectares, use four and treat it well—you could get the same or better yield than before,” he said.
Mr. Bah added that ActionAid is working to ensure long-term impact through monitoring and evaluation, auditing, and community-level tracking. Farmers trained under the project are expected to serve as ambassadors, spreading knowledge and encouraging others to embrace organic practices.
“The evidence is there,” he said. “Farmers using organic fertilizer produce more, enjoy better health, and their products last longer. If we want to live healthier lives and protect our environment, we must move toward organic farming.”
