The Gambia Standards Bureau in collaboration with the Gambia Inclusive and Resilient Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (GIRAV) has signed a memorandum of understanding to develop National Standards for Maize, Horticulture and Poultry and their related value chains. This program is funded by the World Bank and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Bureau and its partners on Friday 10th February 2023 converged at a local hotel to inaugurate the Sub-Committee responsible for the development of the National Standards on Maize and its value chain. Mr. Sariang Jobarteh, the Deputy Director General of the Department of Agriculture delivered a statement on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture while Mr. Ebrima Musa Jallow deputizing for the Director General of The Gambia Standards Bureau delivered the opening statement. Mr. Hassan Gaye Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment delivered a statement on behalf of his ministry before declaring the meeting officially opened.
After the opening ceremony, participants were introduced to the Draft Maize Specification and Good Post-Harvest Practices standard documents which they will use in the coming weeks and months as their working documents to enable them to develop comprehensive national standards for the country.
This important meeting was also graced by stakeholders from both public and the private sector, producer and consumer associations as well as the media fraternity such as Foroyaa Newspaper, The Point, Standard, Voice Newspaper and QTV.