The Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP), through the Rural Integrated Climate Adaptation and Resilience Building Project (RICAR), on Tuesday, 16 June 2026 commenced a four-day refresher training for Agricultural Extension Workers, Traditional Communicators, and Women and Youth Change Agents in the Upper River Region (URR) and Central River Region (CRR).
The annual training aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of key community-based intermediaries to effectively communicate climate information products and services to farming communities in a user-friendly and accessible manner. It also seeks to support the dissemination of the 2026 Seasonal Rainfall Forecast to farmers, enabling them to make informed agricultural decisions in the face of increasing climate variability.
Speaking on behalf of the RICAR National Project Coordinator, Mr. Bakary Trawally highlighted the importance of the training in strengthening the adaptive capacity of rural communities across the country.
“This gathering reflects our collective commitment to ensuring that climate information is not only produced but effectively communicated, understood, and translated into meaningful action by farming communities,” he said.
Mr. Trawally described the training as a celebration of commitment, dedication, and impact, while expressing appreciation to the project’s change agents who continue to play a vital role in relaying climate information to communities.
“Your work is the heartbeat of this initiative. Across the two regions, we are already witnessing the results of your efforts. Farmers are increasingly using seasonal forecasts to guide planting decisions, manage water resources more efficiently, and protect their crops from climate-related risks,” he noted.
According to him, these actions are contributing to improved food security, strengthened livelihoods, and enhanced resilience among vulnerable rural populations.
Delivering welcoming remarks on behalf of the Governor of Upper River Region, Pateh Baldeh urged participants to take the training seriously and ensure that the knowledge acquired is effectively communicated to farming communities.
He emphasized that climate change remains a shared challenge that requires strong institutional collaboration and commended the efforts of key institutions, including the Departments of Agriculture and Water Resources, in supporting climate resilience and sustainable agricultural development.
Representing the Department of Water Resources, Dr. Peter Gibba underscored the significance of the annual weather forecast training and its role in improving farmers' access to and use of climate information.
Dr. Gibba informed participants that the 2026 Seasonal Rainfall Forecast is now available and that the training will equip them with the necessary skills to effectively interpret and communicate the forecast to farming communities.
He noted that the annual initiative has significantly improved public confidence and acceptance of weather forecasts, enabling more farmers to integrate climate information into their farming practices.
The training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen Climate Services for Agriculture (CSA) by building the capacity of frontline actors responsible for delivering timely and relevant climate information to communities within project intervention areas. It also complements ongoing efforts by the Department of Water Resources to ensure that climate information reaches end users in a timely and understandable format.
Funded by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Adaptation Fund, the RICAR project seeks to enhance the adaptive capacity of rural populations in The Gambia by promoting climate-resilient and diversified livelihoods. The project adopts an integrated risk management approach that addresses the interlinkages between climate change, agriculture, and food security.
Through initiatives such as this refresher training, RICAR continues to empower communities with the knowledge and tools needed to anticipate climate risks, make informed decisions, and build resilience against the growing impacts of climate change.
