20,000 boost for Sukuta women farmers

The Future of Sukuta, through its parent body, Friends of Sukuta, a charitable organisation based in Sweden, on Sunday launched a D20,000 project aimed at kickstarting the building of a perimeter fence at the women's horticultural garden in Sukuta, along the Brufut Highway. The launching was done at a ceremony held at the garden.

Speaking on the occasion, Momodou Badjie, local coordinator, said the concept of the project was as a result of a request made earlier on by the women for his organisation to render assistance in fencing the first phase of the garden which is wide open and unprotected.

According to him, his organisation was established in 2001, as a result of an exchange visit between the founding pioneers from Sweden and Sukuta lower basic school.  He added that since then 120 students at various levels of education have benefited from sponsorship from the organisation.

He then urged the community to take a firm stance and take ownership of the project, while assuring them of his organisation’s continued support to help develop and improve the lives of the local people.

For his part, Ebrima S Cham, the village development committee chairman, expressed delight with the timely intervention of the donors in the community.

He further went on to appeal to the donors and NGOs in the community to further help in empowering the women, adding that currently, 250 women have registered in the garden but only 75 of them are participating due to the lack of enough water, electricity, seeds and fertilizer, coupled with the lack of protective fence of the garden.

Other speakers at the ceremony included Abbass Cham, Secretary to the organisation, Marissa Jatta, President, Sukuta women’s garden. The ceremony was graced by the Alkalo of Sukuta, Alhajie Momodou NCO Cham, and also present where Ara Jatta, Yai Compin, and the beneficiaries.