{"id":13349,"date":"2024-08-22T17:18:32","date_gmt":"2024-08-22T17:18:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/?p=13349"},"modified":"2024-08-22T17:18:40","modified_gmt":"2024-08-22T17:18:40","slug":"sc-state-helps-400-women-farmers-with-solar-water-system-in-the-gambia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/2024\/08\/22\/sc-state-helps-400-women-farmers-with-solar-water-system-in-the-gambia\/","title":{"rendered":"SC State Helps 400 Women Farmers with Solar Water System in The Gambia"},"content":{"rendered":"

The agricultural extension project is intended to mitigate food insecurity in the developing West African nation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Special to The Truth<\/em><\/p>\n

ILLIASSA, North Bank Region, Gambia \u2013 For over two decades, Saffiatou
\nJammeh has worked the soil in a community garden near her village to grow
\nonions and other vegetables to feed and earn money for her family.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have been working here 22 years. When we were coming here in those
\nearly days, we even had to cut the trees because it was bushy,\u201d Jammeh
\nsaid through an interpreter. \u201cIn the past, one of our challenges was
\nfencing around this garden to keep animals out. We had to go into the thick
\nbush and cut some wood to make a fence.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the years went on, yields from the garden diminished because of
\ninsufficient water. Wells dried up, and the equipment used to draw water
\nwas worn out. Approximately 400 women who tended plots in the garden saw
\ntheir livelihoods jeopardized by the conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the past, my gardening was very bad,\u201d Jammeh said. \u201cMy husband
\nasked me to stop because the production was limited because of the scarcity
\nof water. My husband asked me to stop working because the benefit wasn\u2019t
\ncoming.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, thanks to a project led by South Carolina State University\u2019s Public
\nService and Agriculture division (SC State PSA), the community garden has
\nan abundant supply of water.<\/p>\n

Funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture via the 1890 Universities
\nFoundation Center of Excellence for Global Food Security and Defense (GFSD)
\nat the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the new solar-powered well and
\npump system delivers water to 49 new and renovated concrete reservoirs
\nthroughout the fields. The system\u2019s tanks have a 30,000-liter capacity.
\nSC State also provided buckets and watering cans for water distribution.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we had limited water, I used to have about six bags of onions from
\nmy garden, but now with this water supply system here, I can have double or
\neven more because of the availability of water anytime we need it,\u201d
\nJammeh said. \u201cSo, I will have more and more yield with more onions to
\nsell.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese days, I come twice a day,\u201d she said. \u201cI can come in the
\nmorning because there is abundant water, and I even come back in the
\nevening and then I can go back and sleep. It has been transformative and
\nhas eased my life and constraints these days.\u201d<\/p>\n

The water system resulted from the GFSD\u2019s 2021 needs assessment of
\nagriculture sector and food supply chain systems in several African
\ncountries.<\/p>\n

With SC State PSA\u2019s Dr. Lamin Drammeh, the grant’s principal
\ninvestigator, coordinating the efforts, the university entered a
\npartnership with Gambia\u2019s National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI)
\nand the Ministry of Agriculture. Dr. Joshua Idassi, SC State PSA’s state
\nprogram leader for sustainable agriculture and natural resources, worked
\nalongside Drammeh, Gambian officials and the farmers to design and
\nimplement the project.<\/p>\n

Fast facts about the project:<\/p>\n

* Title: Cultivating Productivity and Resilience to Mitigate Food
\nInsecurity in the Gambia.
\n* Beneficiary: Illiassa Women Garden Kafo, Gambia
\n* 10 new concrete reservoirs.
\n* 39 renovated reservoirs.
\n* 30,000-liter water tank system.
\n* 12 units of solar power system (385W\/32V) per unit.
\n* Water network to the reservoirs.
\n* Water meter system.<\/p>\n

Global impact and benefits for SC State researchers and students
\nThe garden project represents the first of a series of ongoing initiatives
\nbetween SC State and the West African nation, which also include an
\nacademic and research exchange with the University of the Gambia. SC State
\nPresident Alexander Conyers described the international relationship as
\nfulfilling the university\u2019s global outreach objectives and its
\neducational commitment to SC State students.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we help others, we help ourselves,\u201d Conyers said. \u201cWhen we
\nteach others, we teach ourselves. These relationships and experiences are
\nkey for our students as they compete on a global scale. It\u2019s essential
\nfor SC State to be involved globally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Louis Whitesides, SC State\u2019s vice president for PSA and research,
\ndescribed how the impact of the university applying its knowledge around
\nthe world. He noted that SC State\u2019s next Gambian venture will be the
\nintroduction of a new goat species in hopes of mitigating nutritional
\ndeficiencies causing stunting in children.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a global citizen, SC State University has a responsibility to invest
\nin communities around the world who would benefit from our expertise,
\nparticularly in agriculture education, research and outreach,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cSC State Public Service and Agriculture leads this work on behalf of the
\nuniversity by leveraging its resources, technical expertise and
\nresearch-based knowledge to transform communities, not just in South
\nCarolina but globally.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor Gambia, much like the U.S., agriculture is the leading economic
\nindustry,\u201d Whitesides said. \u201cThe work we are doing in the country will
\nadvance agriculture innovation and practices that will produce far-reaching
\noutcomes that will impact Gambians for countless generations.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Jubilant Celebration<\/strong>
\nOn Aug. 6, Conyers, Whitesides and Drammeh joined Gambian officials and SC
\nState PSA scientists in handing over the water system to the garden\u2019s
\nfarmers. The event was a joyous occasion filled with song, dance and a
\ntraditional Gambian feast.<\/p>\n

\u201cLadies, South Carolina State University heard your request, and this is
\nfor you,\u201d Conyers said as he addressed the farmers with an interpreter.
\n\u201cYou deserve this and more.<\/p>\n

The SC State president drew parallels between the agricultural economies of
\nSouth Carolina and the West African nation, including the production of
\nsweet potatoes and peanuts.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we are doing for you today is what we do for the citizens of South
\nCarolina, and that is to innovate, educate and elevate,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen
\nwe empower women in the Gambia, we empower the entire Gambia, just like
\nwhen we empower women in the United States, we empower the entire country.
\nWhen we empower women, women help us empower children, and those children
\nhelp us empower the entire community.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to pray for your blessings, and I ask that you pray for
\nSouth Carolina State University so that we can continue to do this type of
\nwork throughout the world,\u201d Conyers said. \u201cMany blessings to you, your
\nfamily and this great country.\u201d<\/p>\n

A Thankful Nation<\/strong>
\nConyers was joined on the program by Gambian and village dignitaries,
\nincluding North Bank Region Gov. Ebrima KS Dampha and Minister of
\nAgriculture Demba Sabally, who both expressed gratitude for SC State\u2019s
\nintervention at the garden and their hopes for the relationship\u2019s
\nsustainability.<\/p>\n

We are very grateful for this. Your works here will transform lives,\u201d
\nSabally said, \u201cIt will transform livelihoods and make these women
\nincrease their income, increase their access to health and increase their
\naccess to education.<\/p>\n

\u201cNARI being under the Ministry of Agriculture will continue to work with
\nthese women to move this garden to a better height,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Dr. Demba B. Jallow, NARI\u2019s director general, described the water
\nproject\u2019s domino effect for the people of Illiassa.<\/p>\n

\u201cHorticultural needs a lot of work, but if they do not have access to
\nwater, the garden is there, but nothing will grow in it,\u201d Jallow said
\n\u201cAbout 400 women are working this garden, so this will help them a lot.
\nThey grow all kinds of vegetables, but the major ones are tomatoes, onions,
\nokra and garden eggs (a small type of eggplant).<\/p>\n

\u201cFor this community, it will create a source of income for them,
\nespecially for young people,\u201d he said. \u201cYoung people have some beds
\nhere where they can produce and sell for themselves. This area is known for
\nhaving some migrating youths, especially to Europe and the U.S. If they
\nhave something like this, it will keep them home with their families.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that same vein, Jallow lauded Drammeh, a native of Gambia, for his
\nleadership in connecting his native country to his adopted home in the U.S.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is what is expected of every Gambian,\u201d Jallow said. \u201cIf you go
\nabroad, you bring back something that will uplift the living conditions of
\nyour people. This is really commendable on his side. Dr. Drammeh can stay
\nin America and have everything, but he came back home and contributed to
\nthe development of his country.\u201d<\/p>\n

Further Needs and Next Steps<\/strong>
\nWhile access to water was the farmers\u2019 most pressing necessity, Jallow
\nsaid they still have unmet needs to tend to their fields and protect their
\ncrops. He said NARI\u2019s top priority is a storage facility to prevent crops
\nfrom wilting before the farmers can get them to market.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the vegetables are highly perishable \u2013 tomatoes for example.
\nThey need a place they can store the vegetable and get what they can to
\nmarket,\u201d he said. \u201cIf they do not have a place to store these things,
\nit means their hard work can be in vain.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next on the list would be machines to help them plow rather than relying on
\n\u201cmuscle power.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey use donkeys and horses and their own muscles, which is not very
\nefficient,\u201d Jallow said. \u201cWhat they need is small power tillers to help
\nthem till the soil and prepare their beds.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jallow expressed his gratitude for SC State\u2019s transformational
\npartnership with NARI and the promise of the ongoing relationship.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo the people of South Carolina, the government of the U.S. and South
\nCarolina State University, I want to say thank you very much,\u201d he said.
\n\u201cThis is a rare thing for us to have something of this magnitude.\u201d<\/p>\n

This is the first in a series of articles regarding South Carolina
\nState University\u2019s academic exchange and agricultural extension
\npartnership in the developing West African nation of The Gambia._<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The agricultural extension project is intended to mitigate food insecurity in the developing West African nation. Special to The Truth ILLIASSA, North Bank Region, Gambia \u2013 For over two decades, Saffiatou Jammeh has worked the soil in a community garden near her village to grow onions and other vegetables to feed and earn money for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"wf_post_folders":[244],"class_list":["post-13349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-headline"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13349"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13349\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13350,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13349\/revisions\/13350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13349"},{"taxonomy":"wf_post_folders","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wordpress.thetruthtoledo.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wf_post_folders?post=13349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}