Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC)
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Our mission is to work in partnership with local and international institutions to train farmers on sustainable farming systems to foster self-reliance and increase employment thereby reducing poverty and rural-urban migration in The Gambia. Njawara Agricultural Training Centre (NATC) is a community initiated and owned organisation established in 1990. The purpose of the organisation is to train youths and adult farmers in sustainable agricultural techniques to improve farm production and profitability. NATC also encourages and promotes an ethos of sustainable natural resource management among the farmers we train. |
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We look after our funds by producing a quarterly financial report and enlist a chartered accounting firm that conducts bi-annual reviews and produces an annual audit. NATC also utilises the financial management training that has been received under the European Union’s Non State Actors Strengthening Programme. We are organised: • We have a 10 member board who are elected by a General Assembly for a 5 year term • We produce monthly reports, quarterly narrative reports for our donors and facilitate quarterly training for field staff in various disciplines. We are also a member of the Regional Technical Advisory Committee • NATC holds monthly team meetings to communicate internally as well as an Annual General Meeting |
Over the years we have run many projects and believe that The Life Project is a good reflection of our work. The Life Project was implemented with Concern Universal; it ran for 5 years and was funded by the European Union. The aim was to train farmers in agricultural practices and animal rearing to improve their livelihoods and increase food security. The Njawara Agricultural Training Centre trained youths and women in sustainable skills such as how to establish orchards, gardens and rear animals. The programme consisted of 3 months at the NATC, a further 3 months of home based work and a final 3 months back at the Training Centre to specialise in two areas. The students then devised a business plan for their small businesses and were given packages upon completion to establish their own projects in their communities. 
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NATC is currently implementing a project to promote the production of millet and findi to increase its resilience to climate change and increase productivity for women farmers.This 12 month project funded by the European Union’s Non State Actors Strengthening Programme is supporting the Government’s efforts on food security and environmental conservation. One of the most urgent problems on the North Bank Region and Central River Region is low productivity and subsequent low income which impacts on the level of food nutrition at the household level. The project’s aim is to increase food security for rural families and address the impact of climate change for farmers, especially women. Some of the project activities consist of service delivery; through the production and distribution of 5,000 kilograms of improved millet and findi cultivars, and capacity building trainings for 1000 farmers on sustainable millet and findi production. We expect that the impact of the project will ensure that 1,000 farmers will have direct access to improved millet and findi cultivation. So far there has been 90-100% germination of seeds, helping families to increase their yield, earnings and access to food. The farmers will also have improved and efficient cooking stoves and planting materials to help with environmental conservation in the area. |
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Njawara Agricultural Training Centre Lower Baddibou District North Bank Region The Gambia Tel: (+220) 572 0131 Mobile: 9905749/ 7073775/ 9953016/ 7081470 Email: [email protected] www.natcfarm.blogspot.com |
