By Yero S. Bah
The poultry sector is growing exponentially in the Gambia as young people continue to invest heavily into the rearing of birds, which is creating huge employment and economic independence for many youth across the nation.
One such young man who operates a poultry farm in the rural Gambia is Mr. Lamin J. Ceesay of Dobo village, Sami District, Central River Region North.
In an exclusive interview with Mansa Banko Online on November 28, 2020 via WhatsApp, Ceesay spoke on his farm, the opportunities and challenges of his business in rural Gambia. Recalling the interest to start a poultry farm stemmed from the fact that venturing into birds’ rearing would earn him extra income, the Dobo poultryman said, “I am running this farm alone, no partner yet.”
He said there are lots of challenges like lack of transportation, housing for the birds as well as the lighting systems. Ceesay also wants to expand the business, but he reveals there are no financial means to achieve those targets at the moment. If the necessary funding is available to him, the young rural poultry farmer believes he could do better; “this [funds] will really help me. I have clients in this place”.
Ceesay used this medium to implore the government of the Gambia and the private sector to step in and provide the much-needed financial support to Gambian entrepreneurs.
He further said government needs to render help to the youth who are in need of support to make their lives easy as well as create employment and economic opportunities for others.
