(JollofNews) – Gambia has validated the country’s 2016 livestock census report with the agriculture Minister calling for diversification of the agriculture sector for a robust growth.
The timely collection and analysis of accurate and reliable livestock data is required to enable policy makers and institutions engaged in livestock and livestock related activities to plan, follow-up and prepare appropriate and timely responses to issues affecting the development of the livestock sub-sector.
Agriculture Minister Omar Amadou Jallow said the exercise involved the counting of the number of livestock the country, saying this will help the government in its livestock management preparation.
Accurate and timely data can promote the formulation of livestock policies and regulations, reduce disease incidence, increase production and access to markets.
The last National Livestock Census was conducted in 1993 but was never conducted until this time due to the lack of appropriate livestock policies and regulations in the country.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) funded the 2016 National Livestock Census through a Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) while the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) in collaboration with stakeholders coordinated the implementation of the project.
Perpetua Katepa Kalala, FAO representative said livestock significantly contributes to Gambia’s economy and livelihood of the population. He said it also has huge potential to make significant contribution to food security.
She said there is now increased awareness on the role of livestock on Gambian economy as may people now rares and uses different livestock spieces as food.
Lamin Saine, Deputy Director of livestock department said about 60% of rural households in developing countries are partially or fully dependent on livestock for their livelihoods. “Livestock is a natural capital that has shaped the lifestyle of my raids of human communities with its products and services through time are available all over the world.”
Now that the 2016 Livestock (not Liverstock above) Census has been validated, the question is what next.
The Gambia government needs to bring together people with the requisite know-how from the private and public sectors to bring about improvements to the rudimentary practices in the livestock sector since independence was attained.
Parties on the ground doing the job, not high brow Directors and Permanent Secretaries collecting per Diem allowances, must go out to neighboring and friendly countries to understudy models that will introduce dramatic changes to the livestock sector at all levels. Or encourage semi-retired and retired commercial farmers to partner with aspiring investors in the livestock sector.
In simple terms, go beyond the LUMO/DARRAL buying, selling and wielding machetes on animal carcasses at butcheries. We can do better.
The government can initiate:
1. Specific selection and breeding programs in all categories targeting all regions of The Gambia. There’s ample evidence and research data in support of this undertaking.
2. Introduce dairy production and production programs as an offshoot of the improved strategies.
3. Introduce well designed Artificial Insemination programs in cattle for a start. The Scandinavians may be more than willing to help in this endeavor. This program can be based off of renewable energy sources.
4. Establish integrated feed production schemes aimed at supporting cattle feedlots and Tobaski Ram schemes that will not only provide bold moves towards Poverty Alleviation but also provide gainful employment for Gambians.
5. Introduce the strategic harvesting and finishing (not fattening) of Gambian livestock for the domestic and export markets. This step must be supported by independent private entities that will support investments in the technologies required to move programs forward. NOT government agencies such as livestock marketing boards or new agencies where the ulterior motive is to enrich the MD and line managers at the expense of Gambians. Why must we tolerate a fellow from Niumi Sitanunku plundering our resources at will?
6. Most important is to revamp and re-organize the near moribund Department of Livestock Services and the Department of Agriculture that are way off of the game. A large segment of the rural agents are virtually under-employed but always asking for more from the government to line their pockets. I will quickly add that most of the “Extension agents” expend all the time and resources in Senegal providing health treatment for Senegalese livestock. That’s their primary source of employment.
WE must resist the trend towards endless Research and Extension (R&D) at the Ministry of Agriculture headed by a new SHOWMAN. The Ministry goes hat in hand asking for aid from the FAO and other donors to purchase motorcycles and other resources that are hardly put to work for the Gambian people that need them most.
Folks, we have researched and attempted to extend knowledge with ZILCH to show for it since 1965. Let’s see TANGIBLE action now that will make a difference in the livelihoods of Gambians!
We’d like to see surgical interventions and not broad statements in the form of POVERTY ALLEVIATION OR YOUTH EMPLOYMENT. I’m sick of this as it’s all designed to defraud the Gambian people on the ground. Meanwhile, the officials, looking like stuffed sacks of maize, ride around in air conditioned and tinted glass vehicles with the attendant poorly tailored suits and ties. Mostly from ill-gotten wealth. The rural Gambian, meanwhile, is nursing an empty stomach.
The Ministry of Agriculture and it’s line agencies have been around for too long with little, and I will boldly add, or nothing to show for a SUCCESSFUL PROJECT. How long will this untenable situation go on?? It’s all a waste of Gambian Taxpayers’ money! Meanwhile, they keep “Projecting” endlessly.
Folks the Ministry of Agriculture has been and still is the quiet Drip Drip Spigot that the officials have been perennially drinking from without giving anything back. It’s called malfeasance!
So why don’t I take my behind to The Gambia to help make a difference? I keep a day job that allows me to send my kids to college with no recourse to Malfeasance!
Andrew, good foresight; I hope the authorities take note in the genuine endeavours together… I’m not Niumi-nka but I will side with my cousins in paying back on this instance; against my Jarra cousins; & blame you in particular for all the trouble I have caused, if you are Foni instead; (please everyone, lynch both Bajaw & Andrew together, for the crime committed here if you are from Jarra)…
There are some particular ‘livestock’ in the wild, whom if not reared properly can chose to quarrel violently with fellow coinhabitants as witnessesed before in the past; where someone from Sitanunku & Bunyadu were sent together in a degelation including Modou Joof of GRTS for some arbitration for peaceful continuation of coexistence in Jarra between villages & these livestocks in the wild…
The whole quarrel was on mangoes & who was entitled to what amount….
Relevantly, I used to enjoy lots of that endowed Gambia joking relations; which are families in extension; bonding Gambian blood-ties as a fraternity in unison…
All of that reaches in culture, ensuring harmony, has been threatened gravely lately, by the evil manipulations of the evil kanilai lucifer…
Together again, we’ll attain to the aspirations subsequently as desired…
God bless Gambia; Ameen…
OK Bajaw, I get your drift. Bajaw is a Kiangko! So you’re trying to detract from the real debacle between the KiangKas and their SII NYOLU aka TO FO BALOLU. You know who? Right?
Our cousins that walk on all fours but may also choose to walk on two legs in Kiang like everyone else from Karantaba. Our cousins that are also adept at TENG KULU TEYO :-))
That’s the reason that you’re speaking in parables!
I take it that ALU SII NYOLU have now decided to hand the farmlands back with the advent of The New Gambia. Didn’t I hear that the TO FO BALOLU were in Yaya Jammeh’s good books up January 2016 when they all took off to the Badibu end of the mangrove swamps? Hahaha. Got you!
Nope, Andrew; Bajaw isn’t from Kiang; you are up for more lynching now; & this time, it’s you alone, causing the trouble; & you get no helper when the Kiang kolu got hold of you; lol
OK Bajaw. I will go out on a limb in pursuit of this issue of Sanaw Yaa here!
So, if you are a Jaranka, SITA PADONG NAALU, I have a great Mansalingo for you but only if you admit that you don’t have roots in Foni.
Did I shoot myself in the foot again?
Yes absolutely; not in foni too; I’m a kombo nka, Andrew…
OK Bajaw, I throw the towel in. I am a Hodge Podge Gambian like everyone else in Kombo Lamin.
However, if you are a true Kombo Duuringo, tell me a little about Jambarr Sanneh, Sanementereng and Tujereng ………. and don’t set yourself up for lynching!
:-))
Andrew, you are a big trouble causer; how can you ask me to tread minefields only to warn me to ‘be careful’ (sarcastically) not to blow up myself; right, I’m not going there at all for fear of saving my own skin because you have pushed me into it with a lead, & toss me the detonator remote in my own hands while standing clear ashore yourself….
I can tell you about a Kaabu nka man who (from horse’s mouth) thought bonka fish is the best ‘meat’ he ever had before “in his entire life; yet still, some gargantuan eaters who will forget their mobile phones & jackets in places; after swallowing food to their brim only for their brain to stop functioning with the food overload…
Andrew, while your skin may be out of some cast-iron, Bajaw got thin foil skin; I’m runaway fast from where you heading to now; be warned you’re on your own on this one & the lynching is all for you alone….
Kaabu man, on his way back from the fish Market, would proudly swung his pieces of bonka strewn together tossing to my face yelling; Kombo Turaagh¡¡¡…
Bajaw, keep me out of this one (laughs)!!. The Tourays are the biggest eaters in the Gambia with a slight competition from the Jarjues.
Yes it’s indeed true that ‘the calf (young cow) when released will always know who the mum is’ – Manding adage; you can name them all again & again Buba; tell me about the Ceesay (fabakary) guy in particular who while running late to a state event; realising he lost the plot of the day to devour into the delicious food expected to be served in the banquet at the end, threw up some tantrums; picking up some fist fights with the security personnel on the ground who won’t flinch to allow him slip through preferentially…
Andrew, while I can say all this…
I say to you; Mbang Wuleng, Lankanyandang¡¡¡; my mouth isn’t brave enough to go where even angels will tread carefully when gone astray…
You contrary have heart built out of cast iron; & are on your own all the way for the Kaabilo/a Lynching; while Bajaw will be watching from a considerable distance, muttering to himself, ‘I told him so’….
OK Bajaw! You mentioned the Kombo Tuura aka Bojang Kunda Suturo.
NGAN NA BAALU DUNDI LEH SILANG. Hahaha!
I can hear them say, Nko Aling Mfuu Nying Andrew La Bang.
-:))
Exactly Andrew; Nee meh la baalu dungdi sanying (calling oneself to order); instead of trending out of boundaries, always throwing in your petrol soaked towel until you are caught in the fire…
You yourself know exactly what you looking for; like a long queue of some 3 miles formed; all saying, Dukareh nko, ali teng nfanna fula nying Andrew la bang domanding¡¡¡…
Your blast furnace skin will literally be melted from the palming with bare hands….
& my body dies for you if Pamparang/o is used instead of the bare hands as others might prefer because of your annoying…
You will wish you heeded Bajaw’advice in the first place which would be very late by then…
You know what the Sukutarians would say? “Aalaa Daa Fix”
True Bax, in Sukuta Andrew would be Daa fixed in scramble; this includes using the traditional pamparang too, if one chooses to which hardly breaks no matter how long in use on lynching someone (Andrew)…
Andrew is a sturbon one; I recommend him to be considered for inclusion on the panel to be deligated for the extradition of the evil yaya killer for trial of the Murderdom humanity crimes committed in Gambia…
True Bax, E Beng Daa Fix Lalleh Kendekeh! You folks are funny!
That’s if they can reach me with the Pamprango Bajaw.
You see I’m also a Kung Fanuntay that speaks Manding, Wollof, Haku Kango, Fula, Serankulu and a bit of Suumeye, Yaya Jakutumbay O Meye? So, I’ll simply disappear on them with the aid of the proverbial Jarrankka DIBINDI RANGO. Hahaha!
Andrew but the Dibindi Rang couldn’t keep the Jarranka from being attacked & beaten up by their primate neighbours whenever they quarrel over some mangoes despite even when being donned like veteran Ousman Bargie; until someone from Niumi Jinnack, Aljamdu & others had to send some deligation to pled with your bullying neighbours, to be reasonable with you; & arbitrate to keep the peace & coexistence; is it that the Jarrankas went on rampage & cut all the mongoes trees in retaliation that make some of your neighbours to migrate & incur into Kiang area now, as you alleged before…?
You can’t escape with the Lackati Rangolu which will jam your diggi & render it invalid & get you caught with your cover blown out; for the ‘very good treating’ you deserve for being very sturbon…
Better be warned; the first mouth (Daa) fix punch will be coming right to you from Jollof news crew themselves right here before you even know…
You Andrew deserve some Kaabila Bussaro…
Now I know for sure that Bajaw comes from Kombo now that he metioned the “Kaabila Busaro”.
Ya Miira E Nene May E Fango Maa Bang Bajaw? Now that you mentioned the Kaabila Bussaro. You sound like a Kung Jaaro.
By the way, all the neighbors have migrated to the Jarras after all the Jarankas Yeh Ko Domo and voted for Yaya Jammeh. You’ll see them waving at passengers on the Trans Gambia Highway from Jappineh to Pakalibaa.
Saanyin E Ka Tama Ning Sing Fulo’la blowing out kisses with the attendant Ning Baara. They’ve also taken to selling Sita Kulo to the Jarrankas for SITAMOLO (for Paracetamol). Hehehe! They might very well take on Boli Wafo, selling Bolo Naa Kubero separate to the Jarrankas!
Bajaw wasn’t too sturbon like the Andrew type when I was younger…
Born in the lower part of the 60S & brought up by an old library (grandmother); I have seen some ‘Kaabila treatings’ in the past but not experienced it myself; yes I was as sturbon as the average boy of the day; which were the survival instincts; if not the peer groups will always bully & beat one up daily when one ventures to play in the streets if you were cowardly as yaya evilness Jammeh type…
But you Andrew has asked for the Kaabila bussaro deservingly by venturing into the general no-go areas…