By Cherno M.S Jallow
The Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), Mr. Momodou Mbye Jabang has hailed the Gambia Government for securing the Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project SRPEP.
Acclaiming the magnitude of the project, the ministry’s Number 2 intimated that, this is the first time the Gambia Government secured a project of this magnitude-purely on livestock. He therefore, commended the Government and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) for this bold initiative geared towards enhancing production and productivity of the small Ruminants in this country.
PS Jabang, who spoke extensively on the significance of the SRPEP, argued that it aims to curtail the country’s rampant importation of small ruminants from its neighboring countries, Senegal,
Mauritania, and Mali. The objective is also to increase local production of our small Ruminants, particularly during the Tobaski Feast, PS Jabang told Mansa Banko Online in interview with our reporter in his office in Banjul.
The Agriculture senior official patted IDB on the back, for their timely intervention in supporting the people of the Gambia for a viable project. The SRPEP was jointly-funded by the Government of the Gambia and the Islamic Development Bank as part of the National Development Plan(NDP). Jabang further expounded on the importance of livestock value chain and horticulture value chain to their Ministry.
He refreshed that in the past, small ruminant is always embedded as a component in various projects such as Horticulture Development Project; Food and Agriculture Sector Development Project better called FASDEP; and the Program to Strengthen Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity in the Sahel (P2RS). But this is the first time Government of the Gambia did everything possible to secure a project of this magnitude purely on livestock value chain, as the PS reiterated. He said one of the objectives of the Agric Ministry is to make sure that this project makes a significant improvement on the production of Small Ruminants through women and youth empowerment from this project.
He disclosed also that the project aims to engage various stakeholders in rearing of small ruminants, to make sure that the SRPEP would be able to supply the small ruminant demands in the country. “We all know the demand during the Tobaski Feast, is very high,” Jabang held. He believed it would also address the “back-way” [irregular migration] syndrome.
PS informed that efforts are underway to increase local production of the small ruminants through breeding scheme, sheep fattening, provision of feeds, meat stalls, processing, marketing, provision of veterinary services that are critical for the production. The SRPEP, he added, would help to map out a master plan for the livestock sub-sector.
Jabang also said the Project would also work closely with International Research Institute based in Kenya; and he spoke of the need to provide capacity building for the livestock players in order to better enhance their skills and knowledge in the production of small ruminants.
He also saluted the Project Management Unit (PMU) for their commitment, dedication and experiences in implementing the project; and by extension, the country’s first female Minister of Agriculture for ensuring that this project is realized during her tenure in office.
In rounding off, PS Jabang exhorted the beneficiaries of this project to take it “hold heartily”.
