The Tekki Fii Project funded by the European Union and implemented by GIZ together with its implementing partners, continues to set the ball rolling in its quest to achieve its core objective of supporting the Gambia Government to boost economic development with a focus on generating opportunities for training, entrepreneurship, employment and access to finance in favor of the Gambian youth.

The project recently donated agroprocessing machines to Jatta Ba and Bureng villages in LRR as well as Morreh Kunda and Fadia Kunda villages in URR. Agroprocessing is one of the most common trade areas these communities are engaged in. The machines are donated to add value to the local agricultural products, boosting economic opportunities for the youths of the communities especially women.

The presentation ceremonies were attended by dignitaries from the beneficiary villages, Chiefs, Religious leaders, community residents, GIZ staff and implementing partners,. One of the communities that benefitted from the initiative, Bureng in Kiang West, LRR, received agroprocessing machines that were installed at the processing center in the village.

Speaking at one of the presentation ceremonies, Fatou Suwareh, a native of Bureng who has been into the business of selling charcoal and perfumes to the Kombos and her village, expressed appreciation and thanked the EU as well as GIZ and its implementing partners for the opportunity.

Fatou is one of the beneficiaries who were trained on how to use the donated machines for making processed baby food. “I have encountered a lot of challenges with the charcoal business, especially during the rainy season, I experience heavy drop in sales during this period, but with the help of the machines, I will be able to shift my focus into processing coos, wheat and other cereal for baby food and producing juice out of seasonal fruits like mango and orange’’.

She further explained how this venture will help her make a better living and encourage other women in her community to be trained and take up agroprocessing as a business.

Another beneficiary in Morreh Kunda in URR, lamented how residents of the community would travel to Basse to use processing machines; she termed the donation as a “life saver” and hope that the people of her community will make the best of it.