Gambiaj.com – (Banjul, the Gambia)- The President of the National Livestock Owners Association Ousman O. Jallow has denied claims made by Essa Mbaye Faal that all the animals purchased for the Small Ruminant Project have died. Faal, a lawyer and politician, made these statements during an interview with an online media outlet. “Look at the Small Ruminant Project, you know we don’t have sheep, Faal claims. ‘’The ones we have are small. So we have problems with sheep and livestock. We had a Small Ruminant Project of $24,000.000.00 let them produce the results for people to see. All the sheep they bought have died. Because at the helm, they don’t have the knowledge, and they don’t have the idea,” Faal explained.
However, Jallow denied these claims, saying the animals were given proper care and medical attention and only a small percentage have passed away due to natural causes. “I visited about four or five of those farms, and they have zero mortality, Jallow tells The Gambia Journal. ‘’Some of them have about four, five, three, you understand? Maybe the supply and where they get these animals, you know, that is natural in animal breeding. But if you say all the animals are dead, there’s no farm across this 60 scheme where all animals are dead. There’s no farm.’’
The Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP) in The Gambia is an initiative that aims to improve the livelihoods of pastoral communities by enhancing small ruminant production and productivity. The projection is being implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). It focuses on strengthening production systems, stimulating entrepreneurship, and improving market access. The objective of the SRPEP is to enhance small ruminant production, strengthen the value chain, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable practices.
Jallow believes that the Small Ruminant Project is one of the best projects in the history of the Gambia, while stating that the project has already changed the whole livestock village and its actors. ‘’All those who receive their farms, their animals, none of them have zero animal or death,” he said.
As a Leader of a Farmers’ Association, Mr. Jallow told the Journalists that as long as the Small Ruminant project is concerned, his association is equally informed, equally participating, and knows the project to their fingertips.
“We (Livestock Owners) are the people who advocated for this project, and we are the people who are the beneficiaries of this project, so we have a right to say exactly what is in the project,” he said. Mr. Jallow vowed that if the project was bad, he would equally face the media and tell them that the project is not doing well. “We think definitely Essa Mbye Faal needs to apologise to farmers who are actually benefiting from this particular project.’’
When asked whether the comment made by Essa Faal, would have a negative impact on the project, Mr. Jallow responded affirmatively, saying there might be negative consequences.
“Once you are a senior man in a country, and then you also speak like that on a platform, if anyone linked to the bank that supported the government heard that the zero animal left on this Small Ruminant Project, they will not be comfortable,” Mr. Jallow said.
Mr. Jallow is not convinced that was the best way of describing the project.
“I am not here to defend the project, but I am here to talk on behalf of the farmers who benefited from this project. They are taking care of it, and I testify, I assess them, I monitor them, and I see the effort that they are making,” he said.
