By: Modou Touray
Project 2 of the Programme to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2-P2RS) on Wednesday presented motorbikes to 19 extension workers at a ceremony held at the Central Projects Coordination Unit, Banjul.
The move seeks to enhance knowledge dissemination and improve extension response in the project intervention sites.
Presiding over the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Mod Secka, said it was a giant step in their renewed commitment to strengthening Agriculture and Livestock extension delivery services.
He added that the motorbikes will strengthen monitoring and proper coordination of the P2-P2RS activities in the intervention districts.
” Understandably, these people serve as focal points between the Ministry and the farmers. I have no doubt that equipping them with these motorbikes will strengthen knowledge of dissemination and improve extension response in times of challenge encountered by the project beneficiaries. Thereby sustainably fulfilling our shared vision for a food self-sufficiency drive.”
Mr Abdoulie Touray, the Project Director of the Central Proje Projects Coordination Unit (CPCU) urges the extension workers to judiciously use the motorbikes.”The motorbikes could be utilised for other department functions but Project activities must Not be neglected ”
For his part, the Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture, Mr Mustapha Drammeh, applauded the gesture and promised that the motorbikes will be put to good use. “There cannot be any effective extension service without mobility. At the department our program is mobility,” he said.
The Department of Livestock Service, which is one of the beneficiaries, was presented by the Director Abdoulie Ceesay, who said the provision of motorbikes is crucial to the mandates of their department.” We are expected to move around,” Mr Ceesay asserted, emphasizing his department’s response to animal health issues as well as production-related issues.
In his welcoming remarks at the presentation grounds, Mr Ansumana Njie, the Project Director of P2-P2RS described the event as historic and symbolic, stressing their commitment to enhance the movement of 19 extension officers within the five years of the project.
The new motorbikes were handed over with associated safety gear (Helmet, Riding Roots, Riding jackets and Gloves) to the nineteen attached extension workers- 11 from the Department of Agriculture and 8 from the Department of Livestock Service.
