By Maimuma Sey-Jawo
Honorable Amie Fabureh, Minister of Agriculture, Tuesday, through The Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP), presided over the disbursement of D3.5 Million loan to 9 Small Ruminant Farmers across the country at a ceremony held at Department of Livestock Service Hall in Abuko.
The disbursement of the microfinance loan scheme is being carried out by The Gambia Teachers Union Credit Co-operative Union (GTUCCU) and Supersonicz Micro Finance limited on behalf of the Small Ruminants Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP).
At the event Supersonicz microfinance disburses D1.4M to 5 farmers while GTUCCU disburses D2.1M to 4 farmers, making it a total of D3.5 million on behalf of Small ruminant production enhancement project.
Speaking at the presentation, Minister Fabureh expressed delights over the disbursement of the loan saying this is what they need as a country to support farmers, so that they can be empowered and benefit from agriculture.
She disclosed that it is the first disbursement of the microfinance loan scheme carried out by GTUCCU and Supersonicz Micro Financial limited under her Ministry.
She recalled that Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project was launched in October 2019, financed in 2 steps and consists of 4 major components which are 1, improvement of small ruminant production, processing and marketing, 2 Access to Islamic Financing and support to capacity building 3, masterplan development for livestock value chains and 4, project management and development.
According to the Agriculture Minister, the objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the livelihood of pastoral communities in The Gambia by Strengthening the productivity and resilience of rural communities and stimulating business entrepreneurship in the livestock sector.
She said small ruminant is very important and people of the country needs to do things by themselves rather than depending on other countries, noting that millions of dalasis are spending during Tabaski to purchase ram outside “but this project is here to address such issue.”
The project Director of The Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project, Mamud Njie, Dawda Kujabi Deputy General Manager and Momodou Lamin Jobe, the head of operation at Supersonicz among others addressed the gathering at the event.
