The total income of Gambia Mango out Growers has hit a staggering D2, 910, 440 in 2014, representing an increase of D221, 207.2 compared to the last year’s total income of D698, 368. This also shows an increase of the kilograms of mangoes harvested from 92, 048 kilograms last year to 332, 692 kilograms this year.
This development was revealed on Saturday by the project coordinator of the Group, Sulayman Mboge, during a day’s meeting with mango processing experts, farmers and buyers at the Radville Farms at the Banjul International Airport premises.
The Mango Out Growers project is a three-year pilot project funded by the World Bank through the government of The Gambia, targeting to commercialise mango farming. Implemented by Radville Farms Limited, the project is coordinated by the Gambia Growth and Competitiveness Project (GGCP).
“This meeting is called for us to discuss our activities last year, what improvements were made and what were our challenges,” Mboge told farmers. He called on them to adhere to the advice of the mango experts, which, he opined, can contribute to the high yield.
Radville farm manager, Luis Alves, at the meeting, declared the 2014 mango season as good, crediting the farmers for the success.
Like Mboge, the Radville farm boss equally emphasised the need for farmers to adhere to mango experts’ advice if they are to make good harvest.
The horticultural expert at the GGCP, Mamour Sey, at the meeting said the agreements that would be met at the meeting would determine the future of the project as it phases out this year. He called on the farmers to maintain a good working relationship and to always consult the experts for their advice on the management of their mangoes.
The manager of Matching Grant Facility, Modou Njie, also a representative of Dexis Group, also described the season as successful. He stressed the need for exclusive commercialisation of the mango industry, observing that many tonnes of mangoes are left spoiled each season. “We all have to devise strategies to reduce post-harvest spoilage of mangoes,” he suggested.
One of the mango farmers at the meeting, Bai Bojang, appealed for the expansion of the project timeline, saying it has encouraged farmers to grow more mangoes for better income.
Source: Daily Observer