The
president of the National Livestock Owners Association, Ebrima O. Jallow, has
underscored the need for district and regional authorities to support the
association in providing easy access to grazing area for cattle as enshrined in
the animals welfare Act.
Ebrima
O. Jallow called for this support on Monday in Kerewan North Bank region at a
consultative meeting with stakeholders of livestock subsector on the theme:
“Reduction of conflict among livestock and crop farmers.”
He
said the community outreach program aims at sensitizing authorities to support
the identification of cattle tracks, with the ultimate objective of building
peace between cattle farmers and crop farmers.
He noted that the encroachment of cattle
tracks by crop farmers resulted in conflict which eventually led to exorbitant
charges by district authorities.
Jallow
said there was need for stakeholders to respect the designated cattle tracks to
facilitate movement of livestock to grazing areas without destroying crops on the
farms.
He
thanked the government for their support to the association in promoting
livestock, noting that cattle contribute immensely to the development of the
economy.
The
president commended NeMa project for supporting the outreach campaign, saying the
forum would help stakeholders to strategize and embrace rethinking on how to
effectively address problems between cattle and crop farmers in the region.
He
challenged the district structures to work with chiefs to organise district
meetings to create more awareness on the need for all to understand the role of
the association in preserving designated cattle tracks.
Governor
Ebrima KS Dampha lauded the association for the initiatives, noting that it
would complement government’s efforts in strengthening peace and national
reconciliation.
He noted that government attached great
importance in strengthening traditional administration to enhance sustainable
peace and reminded district chiefs to be neutral in politics and uphold to fair
dispensation of justice among people.
Alh.
Dembo Santang Bojang, Adviser to National Livestock Owners Association called
on the regional authorities to be vigilant in safeguarding available land, to
pave the way for animal grazing and ameliorate the effects of conflicts among farmers.
He
expressed the need for chiefs to embrace the use of Alternative Dispute
Resolution Services to enhance peaceful solution to conflict.
Aji
Mai Bojang echoed similar sentiments and called on women gardeners to seek
support from agriculture on fencing and water facilities to address cattle
intrusion in to gardens.
Ebrima
Bah, the president of NBR Livestock Farmers Association, noted that the meeting
would help to address the perennial problem.
He called on gardeners to provide durable
fencing to prevent cattle entering during the dry season.
Chief
Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh of Upper Baddibou, said there was need for Gambia
Livestock Marketing Agency to sensitize cattle farmers on payment of cattle tax
and its benefits as farmers are in doubt as to where to pay cattle tax and on
time.
Chief
Alagie Jagne of Central Baddibou, Fabala Fadia Kinteh of Lower Badibou, Saite
Gaye of Sabach Sanjal and Fabakary Nana Sonko of Lower Nuimi, all assured of
their unflinching support to maintaining peace between cattle and crop farmers.
