Africa-Press – Gambia. FAO procured the items including 1 desktop computer and printer, 3 laptops and 15 android tablets through an FAO funded Technical Cooperation Programme titled “Integrated National Emergency Response to Avian Influenza in The Gambia”. The motorcycles are meant to strengthen extension service delivery and disease surveillance at border posts whilst the IT equipment is meant to enhance data collection and reporting.
Mr. Mustapha Ceesay, Assistant FAO Representative and Head of Programmes handed over the items to Mr. Abdou Ceesay, Director General, DLS at a brief ceremony at the department’s complex in Abuko.
In his statement, Ceesay said that TCP is one of the areas through which FAO assists member countries to build capacities for improved delivery in areas related to FAO’s mandate. He noted that the presentation is aimed at strengthening the capacity of the DLS for effective service delivery and safeguarding public health, livelihood, food security and nutrition of the Gambian population. He explained that the TCP titled “Integrated National Emergency Response to Avian Influenza in The Gambia” has a budget of GMD12million. It is aligned to the FAO Country Programming framework and would contribute towards the achievement of government priorities in the National Development Plan (NDP) Outcome 3.2: Value chains enhanced for Agriculture and Livestock Transformation; Outcome 11.2: Emergency and Disaster Risk Reduction and Response strengthened at all levels and; NDP Result Area 2: Increased livestock production for food self-sufficiency in animal and animal products.
“We hope that the intervention will enable the country to fully prepare against the highly infectious and deadly avian influenza that is ravaging the poultry industry and livelihoods across the world,” Mr. Ceesay said. “The TCP has supported mass public awareness activities across the country. It has also facilitated a study tour to neighbouring Senegal by the staff of the DLS to help strengthen their capacities.”
For his part, Mr. Abdou Ceesay expressed profound appreciation and gratitude to FAO on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture for the gesture. He described the TCP as timely, noting that FAO remains a true and consistent partner and supporter of the Ministry of Agriculture and his Department. He explained that through the TCP’s support, poultry farmers and stakeholders across the country have been sensitised on the prevention, control and management of Avian Influenza and to strengthen the risk management of the poultry value chain.
“The motorbikes and IT equipment will help enhance the surveillance and reporting on all transboundary diseases,”he said expressing optimism that the intervention will contribute to the successful implementation of the project activities. “Mobility and accurate and timely data are key to the attainment of the project objective and we will make sure that the donated items are utilized effectively for the intended purpose”. Project Background
The Gambia has endorsed the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture” and should take all the necessary actions for its implementation. The Government is highly committed to addressing the food and nutrition problems. The poultry industry provides food security opportunities and employment for the most vulnerable populations. As a result, increased poultry production and productivity provide a platform for youth and women employment, income generation, poverty reduction and attainment of food self-sufficiency. There is an existing national production capacity in terms of infrastructure but the farms are not operating at full capacities simply because of the serious challenges of the competition from the cheap imported products.
National imports for poultry products in 2018 and 2019 stood at 20 928 and 429 525 Mt respectively for poultry, while eggs stood at 5 368 Mt and 79 011Mt respectively. These imports were mainly from Senegal. Small-scale commercial poultry farmers are mainly constrained by the high cost of production inputs, high mortality of chicks and lack of production techniques. To improve their livelihood statuses they need inputs, routine disease control and other veterinary services, advisory and training. Currently, the poultry industry is solely dependent on imported production inputs (fertile eggs, Day-old-chicks (DOCs), feed, veterinary vaccines and drugs) and access to these productive resources is threatened by the outbreak of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza in the neighbouring republic of Senegal.
The entire commercial poultry sector is likely to be shut down with an outbreak in the Gambia, as there are only a few local suppliers of these inputs and raw materials. This will make our producers lose access to these resources and inputs, as there are no functional breeders and hatcheries in the country. The Gambia relies on Senegal for the supply of day-old chicks, feed, medication and supply of poultry products.
In January 2021, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) announced the outbreak of the highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (bird flu) H5N1 in neighbouring Republic of Senegal. This led to a national ban on the import of poultry and poultry products from Senegal to prevent the spread of the disease in the country. To address the issue, which is a threat to national food security, the country constituted a National Working Group on poultry and poultry products. The body comprises the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Livestock Services, the Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency, the National Poultry Cooperative, the National Livestock Owners Association, the Young Poultry Farmers Association and the Ministry of Trade, Industries and Employment. The Ministry of Agriculture also solicited support from FAO through a TCP to support national preparedness to respond to this emergency in Senegal.
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