The ROOTS Project, in collaboration with the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), has successfully concluded a five-day training on Food Safety and Quality Management (Good Hygiene Practices – GHP & HACCP), held from 26th to 31st July 2026 at the NaNA Conference Room.
The training brought together 38 agri-food enterprises, comprising ROOTS Youth-Based Matching Grant beneficiaries and members of the National Association of Food Processors, to strengthen their knowledge and skills in food safety and quality management.
This initiative directly supports Component 2 of the ROOTS Project, which focuses on improving market access by strengthening agricultural value chains and enhancing the competitiveness of farmer organizations and agri-food enterprises. Meeting food safety and quality standards is key to accessing higher-value markets, increasing consumer confidence, and ensuring sustainable business growth.
The training was developed following a Food Safety Training Needs Assessment, which identified significant gaps in Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), HACCP implementation, and overall food safety management among beneficiary enterprises. Over the five-day programme, participants acquired practical knowledge to improve their operations, product quality, and compliance with national food safety standards.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, ROOTS Project Director, Mr. Famara Trawally, congratulated the participants and encouraged them to put the knowledge gained into practice. He noted that the next phase of the programme will focus on facility-level coaching and technical guidance for enterprises that qualified through the eligibility assessment, while encouraging others to continue improving their facilities and practices in preparation for future support.
Representing the Director General of FSQA, Mr. Fofana commended participants for their active engagement and reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to supporting agri-food enterprises. He emphasised that the assessment identified critical gaps within the sector and assured participants that FSQA remains available to provide continuous guidance as they work towards meeting national food safety standards.
Funded by the ROOTS Project and implemented by the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA), the training forms part of the project’s ongoing commitment to building competitive, resilient, and market-ready agri-food enterprises across The Gambia.