By: Momodou Justice Darboe
Herds of cattle are increasingly encroaching on parts of the populated areas of Brusubi, Tranquil, Bijilo and Kerr Serign.
Despite the appeal from the National Roads Authority(NRA) about wandering cattle on the roads around these areas, there appears to be no end in sight to the problem.
Cattle herder Batch Sowe, however, told The Voice that the search for pastures is forcing cattle herders to foray deeper into areas where pastures are greener.
Rapid urbanization and suburbanization are apparently limiting the ability of herders to graze their cattle.”Most of the areas, where our animals used to feed, have now been built. There are structures everywhere and this is inhibiting our ability to find places where our cattle can graze,” herdsman Saidou Bah explained to this medium.
However, many residents of Brusubi, Tranquil, Kerr Serignand Bijilo have expressed fear and concern over the safety of persons as regards the roaming cattle.
” Herds of cattle are let loose on people on an almost daily basis and this is compromising our safety, especially children,” a mother of two, Ndey Manneh, lamented.”
This The authorities must help in finding a solution to the problem of cattle, wandering in the populated areas,” Malick Jobe of Tranquil told The Voice.
Meanwhile, the Director of Press and Public Relations(DPPR) at the Presidency, Amie Bojang, has recommended the quarantining of any roaming cattle at security facilities.”If the owners do not claim them within a reasonable period of time, they should be slaughtered and their meat distributed to health facilities…,” she told Star FM’s Wakeup Gambia Show on Tuesday.
