“I am hundred per cent (100%) hopeful that farming is the way forward in the Gambia,” the founder and Manager of the Brusubi-situated A&S Poultry Farms, Mr. Adama Ndure, argued.
The young poultry farmer told this medium, in an exclusive interview through WhatsApp on January 17, 2021, that his aims and objectives are: Better income generation; economic independence; self-reliance; provision of decent healthy products to the public; and the promotion of hygiene.
Ndure said he creates employment opportunities for the youth and women, claiming he makes his prices affordably so as to reduce the economic burden on society. He secured his first job in a Business Company from 2014 to April 2020 where he served in various positions and ended up as Assistant Supervisor before his resignation, to engage in personal ventures. He’s currently administering a startup business that produces and supplies poultry products, like chicken meat, eggs and chicken manure, to consumers.
“I had this dream of establishing my own venture and [to] become my own boss someday; and I worked towards that within four years (2014/2018). I [eventually] became a poultry farmer,” Poultry Manager Ndure pointed out.
As an entrepreneur, Ndure ever had the passion of rearing birds at his backyard and through this, he realized that such farming subsector is one of the leading industries in the world, and for him, it presented a perfect opportunity for him to get involved.
He stressed that food is a basic human need and necessity for human existence, pointing out that huge amount of poultry products consumed in the Gambia are externally imported into the country.
However, the seemingly determined young man strongly believes he could equally make it here in the Gambia, through the production of fresh and quality poultry products to respond to the demand in the market.
“Agriculture in the Gambia is probably one of the most lucrative businesses, especially when it is set up and properly managed. If the youth and women are supported enough, it will definitively help towards improving the livelihoods of Gambians,” Ndure posited.
The poultry producer noted he has achieved a lot, because he had started with only 100 poultry birds but he’s currently having about 1,500 birds. He also processes, packages, and supplies supermarkets, households, and individuals. According to him, the ability to brand his products plays a very vital role in marketing, adding it leads to satisfaction of his customers.
He, however, divulged it’s still difficult for him to get a more spacious land where he could comfortably expand his business with quality services. He used this medium to appeal to the Gambia Government and other partners to come to his aid in that regard.
Ndure indicated the main reason why local chickens are expensive in the country, compared to imported ones, is that poultry feeds in the Gambia is very costly, and that the same situation goes for vaccines as well. He asserted that having cordial relationships with customers and suppliers is his strength in the industry within the country.
The A&S Farms chief laments that trans-boundary diseases are a permanent threat to farmers–whether they crop growers or birders–because of the economic, income and investment losses. Therefore, combating these diseases becomes a necessity for farmers, Ndure charged. He also cited lack of finance but reassured that the availability of capital would help him overcome all of the other challenges.
Ndure disclosed he’s alone in his poultry farming, even though he offers part-time employment opportunities to other young people.
