By Saikou Suwareh Jabai
Kombo Central Mango Growers Association in the West Coast Region over the weekend held a congress at Brikama Upper 
Basic School. The association comprises over two hundred members.
Declaring the congress opened, Kaddy Bojang, Director of Agriculture West Coast Region, who spoke on behalf of the Governor of West Coast Region, expressed her delight to the association. She said trees are very important in our society because without trees there would be no rain fall.
She advised them to grow more trees, adding that West Coast Region is facing many challenges such as rainfall. She urged them to unify and work for the interest of the association.
For his part, Tamisir Manga, the Project Coordinator Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project who spoke on sustainability of the society, noted that the growth and competitiveness of the project should extend.
According to Mr. Manga, the association has made progress in terms of mango wastage, that is Radville and GAG have been buying mangoes from the cooperative society. He called on members of the society to be discussing issues with them.
He advised the Executive to discuss the constitution governing the association so as to foster transparency.
Gibril William from Gambia Horticultural Enterprises also elaborated on transportation of mangoes to the market. He asserted that this year mango marketing would not be a problem because GAG has a Machine at hand. The Machine is used for the processing of mangoes that are not fit to be taken to the market, he said.
Mr. William urged members to create an avenue in order to ease the transport of mangos to their link partners, since if they are not available their mangos will be spoilt or not marketable.
Another Speaker Sainey Touray of Agri Business urged members to contribute and work with the Executive body in terms of the drafting of the activities for the year. He added that cooperative society work with groups but not individuals. So therefore members should come as a group in order to benefit from the association of the cooperative society.
He added that cooperative society also wants youths because youths are the back bone of any Nation. They can also inherit the old ones when they retire, he noted.
According to Touray, cooperatives are purely democratic and the views of the members are considered.
Edirisa Sonko from Radville Farm urged members to disseminate information to others so that they can also join the association, adding that this year there will be sale of mangos in the market.
