By Abdoulie Nyockeh
The Project Management Unit (PMU) of the Small Ruminants Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP), in partnership with the Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) under the Ministry of Agriculture, recently held a five-day nationwide regional launching of the SREPEP.
This project is the biggest and promising purely livestock production enhancement project that the Gambia government ever secured from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), according to official sources.
The Project’s primary aims are to increase the population of the small ruminants; alleviate poverty; food security and provide job creation opportunities for both women and youth of this country.
The total envelop of the (SRPEP) cost is estimated at US$26.81 million of which Islamic Development Bank’s contribution is US$25.17 (94%), and the government of the Gambia-US$ 1.64 million (6%).
The project is a sheep and goats husbandry enhancement intervention targeting rural and peri-urban communities in the Gambia.
In giving an overview of the project during the launching held at various regions of the country, Mr. Mamud Njie, Project Director of SRPEP, said the project comprises various components, with set targets across the country purely on livestock production.
Njie disclosed that the project plans to have its headquarters at YBK [Yerro Berry Kunda] in the Central River Region South.
He informed his audience that the project, which is a loan to the Government of The Gambia, is funded by Islamic Development Bank.
Njie further told farmers that the project is expected to last for four years, aimed at discouraging the importation of small ruminant from the neighbouring countries such as Mali and Senegal. It’s also to encourage self-sufficiency in meat production.
He outlined that, through a value chain approach, the project would cover production management, genetic improvement, and diseases control, access to finance, infrastructure modernization, and human capital development.
Among the component A of this project are production, processing and marketing facilities, which he noted, is key as far as livestock production is concerned. He also stated that the project is going cover thirty-nine districts across the country, with the objectives to enhancing livestock production and productivity.
The Project Director of SREPEP catalogued that the project “will greatly embark on various activities in term of building the capacity of livestock owners, butchers, dealers, construction boreholes, meat storage, markets, laboratory, provide medicines, for small ruminants.
The project also aims to work closely in collaboration with all the regional livestock directors and the Governors and Chiefs to ensure the success of this project, stated its Director. He added that the project’s objectives could not be achieved without the participation of these actors who are very influential in their communities. He, therefore, commended them, particularly the region governors and the chiefs for their encouragement towards that project.
Speaking at the launch event held in Kerewan NBR, Chief Fabala Kinteh of Baddibou, expressed total appreciation to the government of the Gambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture for ensuring that Gambian livestock farmers benefit from this project.
Describing the project as one of the most essential projects as far livestock is concerned, the District Chief is optimistic it would help to discourage the importation of small ruminants into The Gambia.
But Kinteh advised the Project Management Unit to ensure that there’s transparency in the implementation of the project within the regions, and he thanked them on behalf of the community and people of North Bank Region for this project.
Also speaking at Janjanbureh during a launching on Sunday, Chief Bakary Jam Jawo, applauded the government for this magnificent project that would greatly help livestock owners to boost their production and productivity.
“We have no doubt that considering the project management team, this project will impact positively, the livelihood of the farmers,” Chief Jawo said.
He, however, challenged the livestock farmers to work hand-in-glove with the Project Management Unit to ensure its success. He recounted various projects that were brought to the country but after the period of the project, “everything collapsed”; and he said that should not be repeated in this project.
For his part, Hon. Alhagie Sillah, a National Assembly Member, also urged the farmers to show more commitment and dedication towards this project as there was a lot of struggling before it could be approved at the National Assembly. The lawmaker wanted the farmers to take ownership of the project and work in consultation with the regional livestock directors across the regions, so as to ensure its success.
The Governor of CRR, Hon. Abba Sanyang who was full of joy and appreciation about the coming of this project, said the launching was long overdue as “this project will support the livestock in improving the livelihood of the farmers.
The Regional head added that considering the important role that the livestock sector plays in their society, it’s very key that all hands are put on deck to ensure the successful implementation of this project.
Considering the management team of the project, Governor Sanyang is undoubted that this project “is promising and will be one of the best out of many other projects”. But he underlined that the success of this project depends on the livestock owners.
He challenged them to engage the livestock regional directors in the implementation process of this project. To the farmers, the CRR Governor said, “the project is here for the farmers. We need to take ownership of this project”. He posited for the project management team to involve the grassroot farmers and participate in the implementation.
Sanyang commended the Regional Livestock directors from both South and North of the Central River Region for their firm commitment towards their work.
Enjoining them to keep on the momentum to national development, Governor Sanyang also seized the opportunity to thank the government of the Gambia for creating the enabling environment.
He echoed on the significance of this project, which is to empower youth and women to be self-reliance. We need to embrace and cherish this project.
The Governor also commended the Islamic Development Bank for sponsoring this project, as he charged that, as far as CRR is concerned, all hands must be on deck, ranging from their field workers, dealers, livestock owners to regional livestock directors, in ensuring that the project comes to fruition.
“We will not allow this project to fail in CRR, as half of the livestock owners and the project management team are from CRR.
“We will endeavour to make this project a leading success project for livestock farmers in this country,” Governor Sanyang avowed.
