Indonesia re-inaugurates agricultural training centre in Gambia

Indonesia and Gambia have re-inaugurated the Agricultural Rural Farmers Training Centre (ARFTC) in Jenoi, Gambia, as part of efforts to strengthen food security in West Africa. “This is a renewal of Indonesia’s commitment to continue walking together with Gambia in strengthening food security, building capacity, and sharing knowledge that benefits future generations,” said Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Arrmanatha Nasir in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jakarta on Thursday. The inauguration was carried out by the Indonesian Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Gambian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sering Modou Njie on the sidelines of the 2nd Indonesia-Gambia Joint Commission Meeting in Banjul on Wednesday (1/7). Arrmanatha said that Indonesia is exploring potential collaboration with other development partner countries through South-South and Triangular Cooperation schemes to organise training at the ARFTC Jenoi for African nations. The ARFTC is expected to develop as a regional centre of excellence that strengthens agricultural innovation, human resource development, and food security in the West African region. Indonesia affirmed that it will continue to be a partner for Gambia in strengthening food security, building capacity, and sharing development experiences for the progress of Gambia and the West African region. “Because true friendship, like the best harvest, is born from commitment and real action that we continue to nurture and care for together,” Arrmanatha said. The ARFTC was established in 1996 and was initiated through a cooperation between the Indonesian Government, the Indonesian Agricultural Community Charity Foundation (YAMPI), and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). Since its establishment, the ARFTC has become a training centre for more than 6,000 farmers and agricultural extension workers from Gambia and other West African countries, such as Guinea, Liberia, Mali, and Senegal.