Jallow’s Enterprise was established in 2018 by one Mr. Alieu Jallow of Kerr Ngatta Village in the Central Baddibu District of North Bank Region (NBR). As he indicated, it’s aimed at mitigating the sufferings of residents of this rural part of the Gambia, in getting quality rams and goats, especially during festive periods like Tobaski and others.
Jallow, a Higher Teacher’s Certificate (HTC) holder from the Gambia College campus in Brikama, explained to this medium that he ventured into animal rearing after realizing that his people were encountering lots of challenges in purchasing healthy animals for consumption. “I started buying small rams of these animals to rear until now I got a herd,” he said.
Disclosing that since the inception of his business he has realized numerous benefits, the ‘Jallow’s Enterprise’ founder was quick to pin-point some of the setbacks he’s faced in terms of mortality rates among his animals, while admitting animal rearing is not an easy venture as it requires time, feeding, vaccination, and it’s capital intensive.
The former teacher, who now rears animals for business purposes, stressed it wasn’t easy for him to depend on a single-meagre salary as the family dependency was quite higher on him. That prompted him to start rearing animals to supplement his monthly salary as a teacher, he pointed out.
However, last year, Jallow was able to get the sum of D250,000 from the Agro-grant under the Tekki Fii Project implemented by the IMVF and ADWAC–an opportunity he lauded. He added the grant availed him the much financial muscles to expand his business. Jallow also opined that rearing of animals is a lucrative business provided capital and the required facilities are available; acknowledging the market is already available in the Gambia.
But he observed that in accessing funds in the Gambia, one goes through a lot of bureaucratic principles; and after applying for funding, it could take months or even years before these funds are made available to applicants.
According to him, sometimes the way certain projects are designed in this country, doesn’t suit certain businesses; and he therefore suggests that consultations should be done with the relevant stakeholders before projects are bankrolled for farmers or entrepreneurs.
Being an agriculturist and a rural dweller, the young animal rearer told Mansa Banko Online newspaper that animal husbandry or sheep fattening had been his passion since childhood, and his education background has equipped him with the requisite skills and knowledge to embark on such life-change adventures. Among his dreams is to become one of the leading suppliers of quality breeds of sheep or meat.
On his marketing strategies, the Kerr Ngatta native said he uses social media, direct calls and traditional weekly markets dubbed Lumos.
Jallow’s Enterprise proprietor further highlighted some of the negative impacts the Covid-19 pandemic foisted on his business, recalling the ban on weekly markets, other restrictive measures resulting to massive marketing challenges and reduction in income generation.
He concluded by calling on the Gambia Government and investors in the country to invest in the sector, reasoning it reduces youth unemployment, contributes to food security and reduces the dependency ratio in homes.
