By Modou Kanteh & Maimuna Jarjou
The Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO) Gambia office in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources, and National Assembly Matter is implementing a 4millions Euros project for Oyster farmers in The Gambia. The project is devoted to conducting value chain analyses and developing value chain upgrading strategies from 2022-2025.
Stakeholders for the project met recently at the Kairaba Beach Hotel for a planning workshop for the oyster’s value chain.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Omar SM Gibba emphasized the importance of the fisheries sector. He said the sector has enormous potential and plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of the country. “The sector reduces poverty and rural-urban migration, and enhanced revenue and foreign exchange earnings from fish trading and fisheries product,” Gibba said.
According to the permanent Secretary Gibba, his ministry has put in place the required tools to provide for the appropriate fisheries and aquaculture development in the country. He pointed out that all these initiatives are put in place to provide the enabling environment to properly guide and manage the fisheries, aquaculture, and related aquatic resources related issues.
The FAO country representative, Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi, in her welcoming address said the project focuses on the improvement of the productivity and competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture value chains, as well as on economic and environmental sustainability and social inclusion.“The programme is aligned to the Government of The Gambia’s Strategic Priorities,” Ms. Rampedi said.
Madam Rampedi said FISH4ACP illustrates FAO’s support for The Gambia’s efforts to transform the aquatic food system for employment, and social development by improving working conditions, especially for women as well as environmental recovery and preservation of the natural capital.
FISH4ACP is a global initiative supporting fisheries and aquaculture value chains in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.