#National News

Gambian farmer on animal husbandry to discourage importation

May 12, 2020, 12:36 PM | Article By: Sheriff Barry

A Gambian farmer, Ebrima E.J Jabang is improving on his animal husbandry venture in Kartong, Kombo South, in order to address the unprecedented amount of animals that are imported into the country from neighboring countries, including Senegal, Mali and Mauritania, for the feast of Eldul-adha.

This trend had various negative socio-economic impacts on the Gambia and its development as the country is usually donated by foreign sellers during the period of this important Muslim feast.

Mr. Jabang told this reporter that he started the breeding and fattening project in 2017 with sheep, fowls, ducks and pigeons, saying that animal husbandry is a lucrative business that is not being much ventured by many Gambians.

According to him, some of the breeders are expensive and the cost of a sheep breeder will sometimes cost between D30, 000 to D50, 000 dalasis. “These are very fast in breeding and development, pending on the technical measures applied. I was inspired and motivated by my Senegalese partners who give me the zeal to improve my project at a larger scale, despite the little recourses available. I started with a few sheep and today I have over thirty nine, with over hundred and fifty fowls.”

He use challenged the government; in particular the Ministry of Agriculture and other donors agencies in the country not to only focus their support to rural communities, saying there are many determined farmers in the rural-urban communities who are committed to improve animal husbandry in the country.

“If the Senegalese government is giving regular support to their farmers to improve their business and create market-base for them, i think it is high time for our government to also start regularly supporting Gambian farmers.