COVID-19 is something that has impacted us all, no matter where we live. But for some people the challenges have been greater and the recovery will be more difficult. In The Gambia, for example, a combination of weak healthcare systems, poor hygiene and sanitation facilities and an absence of welfare support means that many smallholder farmers are struggling to get their businesses back on track.
Our emergency COVID response project, funded by the Welsh Government, aims to put power in the hands of female farmers through delivering training sessions on vegetable production and business know-how.
Satou is one of the women who has benefited from this accessible and practical training course. Although she has had very little formal education, she learnt a lot about vegetable production and business management.
This was the first time that Satou had had the opportunity to attend a practical training course. It was conducted in English, Mandinka and Wolof – and illustrations, case studies, stories and group discussions helped Satou and the other participants to engage with the content. She said that the training helped vegetable production groups like hers to better understand their individual roles and responsibilities, enabling them to work together more effectively.
In addition to being a vegetable producer, Satou is also the zonal woman councillor under national women’s bureau which is a position of importance in the community as a leader and voice for the women farmers. She is confident that the knowledge and skills she has gained will greatly help her in this role too.
Context:
Funded by the Welsh Government, this project is supporting female vegetable producers and other rural livelihoods impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Satou is just one of the 31,500 people this project has reached.