The
Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Omar Jallow, has said that the Ministry of Agriculture
was now considering giving more attention to the livestock sector, knowing the
significant the sector’s contribution to national GDP.
The
Agriculture Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the National Advisory
Committee (NAC) on the management of Animal Genetic Resources, held at the
Paradise Suites Hotel.
“As
in many West African countries, the demand for animal products is in the rise
in The Gambia. Such potentials and the eventual possibility of eroding our
animal genetic diversity demand that a mechanism for the sustainable
utilisation and development of our livestock be put in place,” he noted.
The
Minister added that the setting up of a National Advisory Committee (NAC) was a
step in the right direction, considering the importance attached to the tasked
ahead.
According
to Minister Jallow, due consideration has been made to include many
stakeholders as possible, adding that it was envisaged that an effective
institutional framework would be put in place to set the ball rolling for the
elaboration of its subsequent implementation.
He
expressed gratitude to AU-IBAR for their support and the tremendous support
from continental institutions given to the livestock sub sector in helping to
improve veterinary services as well as to the implementation of other projects
geared towards improving production and productivity of the endemic livestock
breeds.
The
Director of Department of Livestock Services, Dr Duto Sainey Fofana, speaking
on the occasion, said a comprehensive livestock policy would provide the
necessary legal and institutional framework for planning, implementation,
monitoring and coordination of livestock development programmes in the country.
It would also bring about changes in the means
and methods of addressing challenges in the livestock sub sector as well as help
in achieving national and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Dr
Bosso Ngueta from AU-IBAR said the National Strategy and Action Plan (NSAP)
were in alignment to the Global Plan of Action for the rational use, improvement
and management of animal genetic resources.
The
Genetic Project implemented by AU-IBAR are now geared towards the elaboration
of a National Strategy and Action Plan for the management of animal genetic
resources in The Gambia.
