By BintaJaiteh
The Vice President of the Gambia Muhammad BS Jallow has said Livestock Sector contributes significantly to the socioeconomic development of the country.
He made this statement during the launching of the Ministry of Agriculture Livestock Master Plan yesterday.
VP Jalow disclosed that the livestock sector faces production challenges which include but are not limited to lack of access to feed, disease outbreaks, limited veterinary services, and low levels of market linkages.
He added that the plan will transform the agricultural sector of the Gambia. He said it has come at a time when the government has completed the second recovery focus national development plan which recognizes the livestock sub-sector as a prime asset and renewable resource that create opportunities to reduce poverty, create employment, and reduce food insecurity, malnutrition, and increase income-generating activities.
VP stated that the Gambia Government through the Ministry of Agriculture with support from the Islamic Development Bank commissioned a study to address some of the challenges of the livestock sub-sector.
However, he added that the LMP will increase and help to target better investment by the government development partners and the private sector. “I assure you that this document includes a thorough and systemic analysis of the Gambia livestock sector.”
Demba Sabally, Minister of Agriculture also said the MOA through the small ruminant project (SRPEP) is implementing a four-year $26.81 million project from the Government of the Gambia and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB).
The project he said aims at improving the livelihood of rural and peri-urban communities by strengthening the productivity and resilience of production systems, stimulating entrepreneurship in the livestock sector, and reducing poverty.
He pointed out that the estimated cost for the cattle value chain, small ruminant value chain, and chicken are USD36,970, 809, USD1,550, 345, and USD5,671,830 respectively. “In order to achieve the projected impacts, my Ministry is seeking donor funding of USD 44,192, 984 to finance the strategic priority areas identified under the three value chains for the first five years.”
He, therefore, expressed gratitude to the government for their continuous support to his Ministry and all the supporters and also urged stakeholders to join in the implementation process.
