Rearing
small ruminants (livestock) is an old traditional and closely linked to rural
culture, indicative of the fact that many rural families have always realised
the importance of livestock. The central role of livestock in natural resource
based livelihood strategies particularly that of poor farmers (women and men)
in Gambia cannot be over-emphasised.
It’s
been reported in The Point yesterday’s edition that the Project Management Unit
(PMU) of the Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SREPEP) in
partnership with the Central Project Coordination Unit (CPCU) under the
Ministry of Agriculture recently launched a US$26.81M nationwide project that
seeks to boost the production of small ruminant in the country.
We,
however, understand that the project in fact is not a grant but a loan. We
therefore have to remind ourselves that too much loans have been secured by the
Barrow government and they must all be paid back. With that, our project
implementers must always put all mechanisms in place to ensuring their success.
And for that to happen, there must always be bottom-top approach and not the
usual way; there should be effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms and
also to ensure sustainability.
Gratefully,
the project also seeks to alleviate poverty, food insecurity and provide job
creation opportunities for many women and youth in the country. Out of the
total envelope of the SRPEP cost, the Islamic Development Bank’s contribution
is US$ 25.17 (94%) and the government of The Gambia US$ 1.64million
(6%).
Bearing
that in mind, let’s judiciously account for every butut to ensure that local
farmers in the beneficiary communities are better enhanced. It is a great move
looking at the target communities to be covered in the project (39 districts
across the country). If wisely used, it would go a long way not only in
enhancing livestock production and productivity, but by extension cut millions
of dalasis used to import livestock from abroad.
We
hope that local capacities will be built especially livestock owners, butchers,
dealers, construction of boreholes, meat storage, markets and laboratory and
provide medicines for small ruminants.
Investing
in sustainable development projects would no doubt have trickle-down effects on
local communities, thereby boosting the livelihoods of beneficiary communities
if the project is properly implemented with sincerity and sacred commitment.
Yes,
there are some limitations and challenges in livestock promotion among poor
farmers – inadequate feed and water resources, low productivity and limited
availability of health services, and poor management practices- and these need
to be addressed.
This
reminds us about the importance of a participatory approach and how people’s
initiatives can bring about sustainable solutions.
In
the conventional agriculture of today, however, the major focus has been on
simplifying the production process and on maximising the yield of the final
product, be it meat or milk. In this process, an increasing amount of external
inputs have been used to achieve the production goals and research has been
focused on developing animal breeds, which responds well to increased amounts
of nutrient rich feed.
Also,
environmentalists are of the opinion that goat has an aggressive grazing habit
which causes severe damage to vegetation and accelerates desertification. But
small ruminants can improve soil and vegetation cover as well as help in
dispersing seeds through their hooves and manure. Although blamed for
negatively impacting environment, livestock will continue to remain a
livelihood option for the majority of the poor farmers in Africa and elsewhere.
The solution lies in promoting adequate measures to ensure sustainable
development without causing damage to the environment.
“The
ultimate purpose of economics, of course, is to understand and promote the
enhancement of well-being.”
Ben
Bernanke
