Africa-Press – Gambia. The Gambia Livestock Marketing Agency (GLMA), with support from the Small Ruminant Production and Enhancement Project (SRPEP), over the weekend, conducted a two-day refresher training for fifteen members of dairy management committees at the Farafenni Dairy Center.
The refresher course marked the second phase of a broader initiative to improve milk quality and value addition across the North Bank Region (NBR).
Participants were drawn from dairy management committees in the Upper Badibou and Sabach Sanjal districts. The training focused on milk handling, processing, packaging, labeling, and storage, aiming to equip farmers with the necessary skills to reduce post-harvest losses and improve food safety.
Momodou Darboe, Director General of GLMA, described the capacity-building initiative as crucial for dairy producers and marketers. He expressed gratitude to SRPEP for complementing government efforts by constructing dairy centers and providing equipment, materials, and solar-powered freezers.
Darboe emphasized the need for livestock farmers to consistently supply fresh milk to dairy centers to ensure effective processing and sustainable operations.
Sang Mendy, Director of Training and Field Services at GLMA, noted that the training would greatly enhance farmers’ knowledge in operating dairy facilities and producing standard-compliant milk products.
He stated that the facilities will be supervised by GLMA and the National Livestock Owners Association to ensure adherence to hygiene and quality standards.
Alhaji Neri Corr, Livestock Specialist at SRPEP, said the milk processing centres were constructed in response to the large quantities of milk produced in the region. He stressed that enhancing farmers’ capacity in processing, preservation, and packaging is essential to add value to milk and increase incomes.
The project, funded through the Islamic Development Bank with support from the Government of The Gambia, includes the provision of six solar-powered freezers and all necessary equipment for milk processing.
To further support the transportation of milk from farms to the processing center, the project will also supply two tricycles for Farafenni and one for Basse, ensuring proper handling and timely distribution of dairy products to consumers.
Kumba Jallow, a representative of the National Livestock Owners Association, commended the initiative and reaffirmed farmers’ commitment to promoting value addition.
She highlighted that the facility is a testament to the government’s commitment to diversifying economic opportunities, particularly for women milk vendors.
This will significantly empower women and improve their livelihoods, she added.
Lead trainer, Saja Kora, explained that SRPEP has constructed two mini dairy centres in Basse and Farafenni to assist milk vendors in adding value and earning better profits. The training covered hygienic handling of milk from collection to processing, including personal hygiene, packaging, and storage practices.
GLMA and SRPEP will also support the creation of farmer groups, consisting of milk collectors, processors, and vendors. This structure was designed to establish a circular economy where surplus milk from herders is efficiently collected, processed, stored, and sold profitably.
The overall objective of the initiative is to modernize the dairy sector, enhance food safety, reduce post-harvest losses, and create sustainable income-generating opportunities for livestock owners, particularly women, through the adoption of modern milk processing techniques.
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