Janjangbureh — The Regional Agricultural Directorate in CRR South recently commenced a three-day farmer training workshop on small ruminants' production techniques at Sinchu Bamba village in Lower Fulladu West.

The training workshop that was funded by Africa Development Bank (AfDB) through the Livestock and Horticultural Development Projet (LHDP) was meant for communities of Pateh Sam and Sinchu Bamba.

Speaking at the opening ceremony in Sinchu Bamba village, the regional deputy director of Agricultural Services in CRR south, Abdoulie Manjang, explained that the objective of the project is to reduce poverty, increase enhanced knowledge and skills, and secure food and nutritional security of women and youths who are the most vulnerable. He pointed out that small ruminant production and breeding is imperative to rural poverty reduction and income generating activities in the rural communities.

Manjang said at the end of the training, women and youths would fully understand the basic concepts and principles of agro-enterprise development and promotion, importance and challenges facing women entrepreneurs and youths under the purview of LHDP.

The district chief, Momodou Lamin Baldeh, for his part, commended both the regional Agric Directorate and LHDP for complementing government's efforts in poverty reduction. He called on the beneficiaries to build a sense of ownership for the sustainability of the project. He noted that one of the most important components of the project is to increase income and reduce poverty, as well as the development and promotion of small businesses and entrepreneurship in the rural communities.

Chief Baldeh further stated that at the end of the training, farmers will be well equipped with the skills and knowledge on the basic concepts of small ruminant production, group management, breeding and rearing management, animal health and diseases, micro-finance and resource mobilisation, feed garden management, and multi nutrient block making, he concluded.