GAMBIA

Background

The National Coordinating Organization for Farmers Association The Gambia (NACOFAG) is a network of farmers and producer organizations established in 2000 recognized by The Gambia Government as a self-help institution to coordinate farmers and producers organizations’ activities in order to ensure their active and effective participation in nation building.
NACOFAG is a founder member of the West African Peasant and Producers Organizations Network called ROPPA (French acronym).

VISION

By 2020 peasants and producer organizations have food security and are self-sufficient and have sovereignty through an effective coordination and communication mechanism.

MISSION

To reinforce and protect the interest of peasants and producer organizations with an enabling policy to guide the welfare of the members.

VALUES

Solidarity, coalition and networking

STRUCTURE

A. The General Congress
B. Annual General Assembly
C. Women’s Wing
D. Youth Wing
E. National Executive Board
F. Coordinating Office (Secretariat)

MEMBERSHIP

It has a total membership of 18,201 from 15 different farmers’ organizations (AFET, NFPG, NAYAFS, NAWFA, FANDEMA, REFESA, FISH Smokers’ ASSOCIATION, Livestock Owners Association, NCGA, Maize Growers’ Association, National Food Processors, All Gambia Forestry Platform, Sheppard and cattle farmers Association, Rice Farmers Association and Freedom from Hunger Campaign).

OBJECTIVES

A. To promote and defend the values of an efficient and sustainable small holder agriculture
B. To promote solidarity and regional integration among farmers’ organizations,
C. To build and reinforce the capacities of its members for effective participation in lobbying and advocacy.
D. To protect and reinforce the family farm concept.
E. To promote food sufficiency and sovereignty.

ACTIVITIES

1. Agriculture and related activities
2. Capacity Building
3. Lobbying and Advocacy
4. Peace Building
5. Women and Youth empowerment

ACHIEVEMENT

Despite some challenges NACOFAG has achieved the following programmes:

A. Distribution of gardening tools to members
B. Participation in international fora on policy formulation and decision making processes.
C. Training of Trainers (ToT) on strategies and proposal development.
D. Awareness creation on issues affecting farmers,
E. Acquisition of a land for office space in Brikama, in the West Coast.
F. Enable its members to participate in sub-regional and national trade fairs

CHALLENGES

1. Logistic for enabling the secretariat to monitor members’ activities at grass root level,
2. Inadequate funding to construct the office space,
3. Insufficient funding to build the capacities of farmers on quality production and productivity (value chain).
4. Lack of mobility to monitor the activities of the farmers regularly and at all times.
5. The effects of climate change on adequate crop production has been challenging over the years.
6. Availability of simple farm tools for the majority of farmers especially women and youth remain a challenge.
7. Limited data on market information systems to enhance marketing and productivity.
8. Limited capacity and knowledge on value addition.

CONTACT
Tel : 00220 995 42 51
Émail : nacofag100@hotmail.com