By Binta Jaiteh
The Ministry of Agriculture officials yesterday faced lawmakers as they submit the small ruminant project that seeks to enhance the productivity through genetic improvements, feed system, production and marketing innovation of product processing techniques at least to give access to finance for small ruminant farmers
It also aims to contribute to the livelihood of the nation’s pastoral farmers and strengthen production in rural communities as well as stimulating business entrepreneurship in the livestock sector.
Mamud Njie , Project Director told lawmakers that “The project is financed in two steps. That’s why some people might be a bit confused as to the time it has taken in certain levels. Livestock development has some key challenges which among them are feed for the farmers, water, and disease especially pastoralists and access to finance,” he added.
“Most of the livestock farmers will tell you that the interest rate they are getting from the banks are too high,” he said,
He added that the design and consultants plan is to help the project to construct structures: ten livestock market, ten meat stalls, slaughter houses, pharmacist market, watering facilities across the country.”
According to him the project will form 60 schemes, 30 for breeding either sheep or goat saying “the project in the credit facility.”
We have the Islamic microfinance component where $3million to be shared among two institutions for wider coverage, he said.
He noted that “the money is a loan and it has to be returned to the government and finally at the IDB. We have signed a drilling of twenty boreholes across the country Ndawen in Niani, Sare Fodige in Sandu, Bohum Kunda in Wuli east, Sowe Kunda in Niamina west. We will embark on a nationwide vaccination campaign (PPR) twice in a year vaccinating all the animals to increase productivity to prevent the killer diseases.
Feed is a concern as farmers need to have feed they cannot depend on groundnut. The project is supporting 600 farmers each with a quarter of hectare fenced and seeds will be given,” he said.