SRPEP delivers pasture processing equipment to farmers

The items which include - animal feed grass chopper 80; Dry wet dual grass cutter machine and hay forage chopper 80; Bailers 200 and Sickles 200, were presented to the beneficiaries at a handing over ceremony held at Department of Livestock Services in Abuko.

SRPEP is a four-year project aimed at improving and enhancing small production and productivity in The Gambia through the improvement of pastoral communities.  The objective is to enhance small ruminants production through a value chain set up. To do this, there are certain things required which includes feed for animals especially during the dry season.

To that end, to reduce the constraints of feeds for animals especially small ruminant, the project through a contract have 20 community pasture of one hectare each fenced across the country to enhance pasture production.

At the event, Demba Sabally, minister for Agriculture Livestock and Food Security, expressed his ministry’s delight to partner with this very impactful project to improve feed challenges for small ruminants especially during the dry long season through establishing pasture fields both at community and individual levels.

Minister Sabally reminded that the SRPEP project under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security is funded by the Islamic Development Bank (ISDB) and the Government of The Gambia at a cost of US$26.81 million as part of efforts to boost the country’s livestock sector.

“The project is financed through a 2-step financing approach and consists of four major components. Improvement of Small Ruminant Production, processing and marketing; Access to Islamic financing to capacity building; master plan development for livestock value chain and project management and coordination,” he added.

Minister Sabally revealed that one of the major challenges in livestock production is shortage of feed especially during the long dry spell in the country.

That, he added, is exacerbated by early and widespread bushfires leaving the animals starved, malnourished and vulnerable.

“In addition to establishing the pasture feeds, the project continues to support farmers by purchasing and distributing at no cost, viable pasture feed from Brazil. In 2024, 240 KG of feeds were procured and distributed to all the 20 community feeds and some individuals. The art of pasture production in The Gambia is a new initiative and many of our farmers have little knowledge on the harvesting processing and management of the product.”

Mamud Njie, project coordinator of SRPEP, acknowledged that the equipment is meant to enhance the harvesting and processing of pasture feeds by farmers, noting that SRPEP is one of the first livestock project, if not the first, implemented in The Gambia with the main objective of enhancing and improving small ruminants’ production and productivity through the improvement of pastural communities.

This, he said, is executed through a value chain set up and that it is envisage that this will reduce the country’s dependent on livestock import and improve self-sufficiency.

Njie however, reminded that to achieve this objective, there are certain requirements that need to be put in place, citing that water for animals is a challenge for livestock especially during the dry season when natural watering points such as ponds, quarries and streams dry out.

“Feed for livestock which is also scarce during the dry season. Control the incidence of animal disease such as PPR as well as developed livestock infrastructures such ad markets, slaughter facilities and drug outlets,” he added.

For his part, Dr. Abdou Ceesay, Director General at the Department of Livestock Services at the Ministry, spoke about the benefits associated with livestock production, adding that with the handing over of those items to the beneficiaries, they are assured of increased efficiency.

Those items, he added, would also help in maintaining the nutritional quality of harvested forage, which he said, is crucial for livestock health, ultimately leading to improved meat and milk production.

On the economic aspect, he said, improved feed availability leads to better livestock production which can also increase income for farmers and contribute to local economies.

To that end, Dr Ceesay acknowledged the hard work and resilience of livestock farmers especially the National Livestock Owners Association, the apex livestock farmers’ organisation in the country.

Ebrima Jallow, president of the National Livestock Owners Association, commended the ministry and by extension the project, which he said, is meant to address the challenges farmers face in providing feeds for their livestock especially during the long dry spell in the country.

Biram J. Sowe, National Assembly Member for Niamina West, who is also a member of the National Assembly Select Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, also expressed similar sentiments at the event.

The event was graced by senior government officials, staff of the department, National Assembly Members and representatives from the beneficiary communities.