The technical support provided to two women’s groups in Néma Bah and Dassilamé Sérère has led to a significant increase in market garden production in these two villages in the district of Toubacouta, located in the Fatick region (center), APS learned Tuesday from the beneficiaries.
The irrigation and land management systems used were popularized in this part of the department of Foundiougne by the Regional Support Project for the Sahel Irrigation Initiative (PARIIS).
« The modern agricultural facilities of PARIIS have enabled us to increase our annual production of onions from 49 tons before the arrival of the project to 131 tons in 2022, » said the secretary general of the women’s group « Yoon Ndiofor » of Néma Bah.
A mission from the World Bank, a financial partner of PARIIS, visited four hectares operated in Nema Bah in the company of several journalists including the APS correspondent in the area.
The 81 women members of « Yoon Ndiofor » produced 200 kilograms of cabbage, 12 tons of eggplant and three tons 150 kilograms of potato, thanks to the project, said the secretary general of this group.
According to her, the methods of irrigation and land management used by PARIIS have allowed to operate the fields for twelve months. Previously, the working time was only three months per year.
The project has allowed women to do two agricultural campaigns in a year, according to the general secretary of the group « Yoon Ndiofor ».
« The income generated by our activities allows us to take care of some family expenses, » she said.
After Néma Bah, the World Bank mission visited a community field operated with the help of PARIIS in Dassilamé Sérère.
« Here, too, agricultural production has increased thanks to PARIIS’ development and irrigation system, » said Mamadou Bakhoum, coordinator of the Dassilamé Sérère intervillage association.
« Thanks to our partners, production has reached 23 tons per hectare for potatoes and 28 tons per hectare for onions. We have reached considerable levels of productivity, » added Bakhoum.
According to him, potato crops will generate 15 million CFA francs this year in Dassilamé Sérère, thanks to the project and its partners.
Fifty-nine women work the field in this village.
The women’s groups of Néma Bah and Dassilamé Sèrére have asked their partners to help them process the market garden production and to build storage and conservation warehouses for the surplus harvest.
The coordinator of PARIIS, Ali Sané Niang, said he had taken note of the women’s grievances.
« We use a sprinkler irrigation system, which is solar powered, in addition to the drip technique, » Niang said.
PARIIS is financed by the World Bank to help farmers operate nine sites in the regions of Fatick, Kaolack (center) and Thies (west).
The development and equipment of the sites cost 200 million CFA francs, said Ali Sané Niang, adding that the project will be implemented until 2024.
The agro-economist Aïfa Fatimata Ndoye Niane, in charge of PARIIS at the World Bank, was delighted with the agricultural yields obtained.
AB/ESF/BK
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