Director
General of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. Saikou Sanyang has commended the
government and the Islamic Development Bank for funding the Small Ruminants
Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP), saying it is a viable project for the
country’s livestock farmers.
Funded
through a 26.81 million Dollars loan for a period of four years, covering thirty-nine
districts across the country, the project targets to reach 30,000 households
and set up massive infrastructural structures in markets, and other important
places. It is a promising project that is expected to change the livelihood of
farmers and boost their production and productivity.
Director
Sanyang described the project as very significant, saying it will help to boost
the lives and livelihood of farmers. He said it will also help to increase
farmers’ income. “The project will improve the nutritional quality of our
farmers and the people, especially youth and women who are vulnerable.”
According
to Dr Sanyang, the project is earmarked to boost the production and income
earning of livestock farmers. “For many
years, this type of project was never being secured for livestock farmers. It
is one of the biggest livestock project ever in The Gambia,” he said.
He
advised the project management team to closely work with livestock regional
directors, district Authorities to make the best out of the project, saying in
terms of beneficiary selection, Dr Sanyang urged the implementation team to
give the responsibility to the regional directors with their livestock
assistants.
“Let
the beneficiaries be people who are involved in livestock production. They are
the people who can make an impact to increase livestock production in the
country. Equally, the implementation team must apply transparency and honesty
in the implementation of the project.”
He
also appealed to livestock owners to always take ownership of the project and
show full commitment and participation in the implementation process.
