By Adama Makasuba
The Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) has recently commenced the “Tobaski” Ram sales at Abuko showground and this is meant to facilitate the availability and affordability of rams to meet the national demand.
According to officials this also seeks to enhance marketing through increased access to rams by maximizing the influx in the Greater Banjul Area where the demand for rams and purchasing power of buyers is higher.
Mamud Njie, Project Director for Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project said that the showground allows dealers of both Gambians and foreigners to sell their animals in a safe and secure place that since it is a Muslim feast and most people would be in need of these animals for their religious obligations.
“We are more prepared this year than last year since most of the challenges regarding the availability of water, security, and electricity were solved prior to the commencement of the Ram sale,” he said.
He also stated that the only constraint the dealers complain of this year, was the inadequate shades since the feast is occurring in the rainy season, adding that too would be looked into, before 2023.
“Some of the interventions the SRPEP is engaging in, is the Islamic Credit facility and from the credit facility, which D40 million has been taken by small ruminant farmers to buy animals for improved production and out of that amount, 68% went into buying animals to sell during the Tobaski,” he stated.
He added it would also increase the number of animals and the participation of Gambians, which will also increase income for the Gambian farmers.
“At the trade fair by next year, we would want to construct a borehole so that the dealers will not be depending on NAWEC for water and we also hope to increase more shades for the showground and the credit facility,” he assured.
For his part, Momodou Darboe, Director General, Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA) said that GLMA is engaged in the commercialization, marketing, and trade of livestock in The Gambia, and as a body responsible for trade in the country, their core mandate is to facilitate and promote sales of livestock in the country.
He said GLMA was also engaged in sensitizing farmers through the various media outlets throughout the nation informing them that there would be enough water, electricity, free accommodation, and security.
He further stated that, The Ministry of Agriculture also gave support which came in the form of subvention and through the Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project, which catered for the rehabilitation of four toilets and the construction of new ones with fund provision for the connection of 600m water supply from the showground.
Kanimang Barra, an animal dealer from Wulli, who also benefited from the Islamic loan explained that the major challenges they encountered last year were insufficient water, electricity, and the menace of thieves, but which have been solved so far this year. He added that they would want more shades to be constructed in the showground since the ones that are available are occupied mainly by feed vendors.