PROGEBE Gambia Launched

The National launching and inception workshop of the regional project on Sustainable management of Endemic Ruminant livestock in West Africa (PROGEBE Gambia) was launched last Thursday at Tendaba Camp in the Lower River Region.

Delivering his remarks at the occasion, Dr Famara Sanyang, National Coordinator of the project stated that PROGEBE is born from the will of the Gambia, Guinea, Mali and Senegal, to preserve and enhance the productivity of their endemic ruminant livestock.

He said the project is mainly funded by the African Development Bank, the Global Environment facility (GEF), the governments of member countries and its partners, ITC, UNOPS, ILRI, CIRDES, and FAO. He noted that it is implemented by International Trypono-tolerance Centre (ITC) for the AFDB and UNOPS for GEF components and will last Six year (2008- 2013) and 10years (2008-2016) respectively.

He said in the Gambia as in all the four participating countries , the project will intervene in five administrative districts referred to as intervention sites namely  Kiang West, Niamina East and Nianija as primary sites and Kombo East and Sami as secondary sites.

Dr. Sanyang pointed out that the project will contribute to poverty reduction and strengthening food security and also to improve productivity of endemic ruminant livestock (meat, milk, and income) within a supportive and enabling institutional environment.

Dr Momodou Mustapha Jaw, Regional Coordinator of the project described the project as a challenge, adding that the AFDB will last for six years while GEF will last for 10 years. He called on the project team to work as a team in order to achieve the target of the project.

He thanked the government and ITC for hosting the regional office in the Gambia.

For his part the Governor of Lower River Region, Momodou Suma Jobe described the project as timely and urged the communities to make best use of it.

Mr Bakary Trawally Permanent Secretary No. 2 at the Ministry of Agriculture said the implementation of the project heavily depend on the professionals and partners.

He commended the Gambia government for the support it has given the project.