National Farmers' Platform The Gambia (NFPG)
The National Farmers’ Platform aims to unite farmers from different regions and countries in West Africa. The organisation serves as a means to empower farmers to mobilise themselves, engage in meaningful dialogue and advocate for their needs. A sustainable and productive agricultural sector with farmers taking the role in decision making. To ensure food sufficiency and increased income for farmers in The Gambia. |
The origins of National Farmers’ Platform (NFP), The Gambia can be traced back to the Praia Conference of June, 1994. The conference identified a need for farmers to build a network and have a platform from which to discuss issues that affect them as well as find a united voice which can effectively lobby for government and donor support. Following the meeting a male and female farmer representative was appointed for each of the 35 districts to be included in an executive committee for the National Farmers’ Platform. |
The National Farmers’ Platform has a nationwide structure that has representation from every district and region. Our members are Associations and Federations who are engaged in farming or the processing of farm products. The NFP focuses on educating and training farmers on a broad range of issues that affect their livelihoods, including agriculture, trade, capacity building, micro-finance and governance. Our strategic objectives: • To serve as a forum for training farmer members and to facilitate the exchange of agricultural technological innovations • To act as a lobby organisation for farmers in the areas of agricultural production, processing and marketing • To improve the livelihoods of farmers by promoting programmes which target agricultural diversification, adult functional literacy and skills development |
The National Farmers’ Platform recognises the importance of collaboration; we have worked in partnership with a Belgium organisation called VECO Senegal/ Gambia and Action Aid in The Gambia since 2009. VECO has supported the NFP in the implementation of its three year internal and external communications plan. Action Aid, The Gambia has provided long term support to the NFP through institutional development and capacity building leading to a robust and effective organisation. The National Farmers’ Platform primarily conducts trainings and holds one off events for its membership; these are some of our successful activities. • In 2011 we held a Sharing and Learning Forum funded by ActionAID. The aim of the forum was to give back information to our membership. Ten resource persons trained forty farming organisations in the following areas; micro-finance, entrepreneurship development, climate change, food safety and advocacy. • In 2010 we organised a nationwide campaign for micro-finance encouraging the setup of village savings and credit associations. The campaign which was supported by the Ministry of Agriculture spanned eight days and was funded by the Rural Finance Project. • In 2009 we held an advocacy training in collaboration with VECO –Senegal. The objective was to develop the skills of the NFP staff and our membership base in advocating for farmers rights. The training highlighted the following areas; identifying advocacy issues, learning how to influence government and donors, developing messages for advocacy and forming alliances. |
We look after our funds by having a trained accountant who uses the quick books accounting system. We are organised with a 10 member board who are elected by congress to serve for four years. To communicate internally and with our members we hold quarterly board meetings, an Annual General Meeting and a congress every four years. We build our capacity by attending trainings in food security with ActionAID, communication and advocacy, and post-harvest with VECO. We belong to the International Food Security Network and the Africa Right to Food Organisation to collaborate and exchange ideas about matters that affect our membership. We engage with government: • NFP was registered with the Attorney Generals Chambers in 2002. • We are a member of several steering committees as the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s food security through commercialisation project and the Ministry of Agriculture’s Gambia emergency agricultural production project. • We invite government departments and National Assembly Members to attend our trainings and events. |
National Farmers Platform
MDI Road
Kanifing
C/O P.O. Box 27 Banjul
Tel: (220) 4399 668
Email: [email protected]