Agriculture Minister Visits institutions

The Minister forAgriculture  Omar Jallow, alias OJ on the 6 and 8 March 2017 visited  institution under his line ministry, from Planning Services Unit, Central Project Coordinating Unit (CPCU) and the Food and Agricultural Sector Development Project (FASDEP) under the Agriculture Department at Cape Point in Bakau, Agricultural Model Horticulture Centre in Wellingara,  Department Livestock  Services, the Nema Project, both in Abuko and a final meeting with the Livestock Dealers Cooperative Society.

The tour was characterized by meetings with staff ranging from directors to drivers and cleaners, visits to offices, project sights and agricultural developments programs. 

The OJ was accompanied by his Permanent Secretary- Saite Drammeh and Momodou Mbye Jabang CPCU Coordinator.

 The Agriculture Communication Unit, the Disease Control Lab, Poultry Farms and other administrative offices at the Livestock Department were among places visited at the Livestock Department.

At the FASDEP project in Bakau, a micro-garden including cabbages, garden eggs, tomato, pepper, among others grown on Framed-Tables, on which nylon bags are spread, with soul sprinkled on it- mix with groundnut cells and manure, was among places visited.

During meetings held with the respective departments and units, staff lamented challenges in getting the required facilities, ranging from deteriorating capacities, morbidity constraints. They also explained numerous projects being embarked upon, but call for more donors funding to enhance staff capacity, and improve on extension services. At the agricultural planning service unit an in-depth discussion on the defunct data system was discussed and proposals on the way forward made. While assuring of his support to reactivate data collection system, the minister also called for staff commitment and dedication to services.

At the Nema Conference Hall in Abuko, project staff explain various projects beings embarked upon and highlighted numerous challenges confronting them, while the minister continue to assure that his office is upon to them towards addressing challenges and enhance development.  The final meeting for first week of the Minister’s visit of line departments was the Livestock Dealers Cooperative Society at the Abateur in Abuko.

During meeting with the Livestock Dealers, they explain frustrations they went through during the recently ended APRC Government and appeal for appropriate measures to regain back their lost glories. Among problems they encountered were eviction and generally unstable working environment, arrests, detentions,- sometimes for asking Former President- Yahya Jammeh to pay back cattle he loaned from them.

The new agric minister in his respond assured them of his office support towards achieving common goals. He advice them to strengthen their Cooperative so that they stands chance to enable them collaborate with government more effectively.

Francis Mendy, a staff called for more staff commitment towards their job.

Saite Drammeh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in his remarks said he took note of the stated challenges and promised that needed follow-ups will be conducted.

He said the down-sizing of the unit in the pasts is among reasons for the challenges being faced with currently. He acknowledged that morbidity is a challenge, but added that they are trying to embark on project activities to address such challenges. He said the planning unit is what moves the Agriculture Ministry, adding that money is being given for data collection purposes. “We can’t get funds without appropriate data system. We were told that the tablets- used for data collection in past were crashed. We have lot of young people that need job. If there is budget the existing vacant positions will be filled,” Mr Drammeh said.

Momodou Mbye Jabang- CPCU Coordinator commended Minister Jallow for his pragmatism. He described his unit as nerve centre for all donor funded projects under the agriculture department. He said among issues CPCU came to address is issues of duplication efforts that arised.

Commenting on the activities that the unit is embarking on, he said the plan launched in The Gambia links to Ecowas Agricultural Policies and continental agricultural development plans.

He said among the projects they are running includes 21 vegetable gardens in North Bank Region and Upper River Region respectively. He added that the unit also hosts the Soil and Water Management Project and the Agricultural Valued Chain Development Project. “We do lot of projects, including rice and livestock productions, but access to market is a problem,” he said, adding that about 500 hectares land area has been surveyed in URR, and they have livestock projects all over the country.

He further stated that other projects under his unit includes the Food and Agricultural Development Project in Bakau supported by the Agricultural Development Program and the NEMA project funded by IFAD and ADB concentrated on land development.

He also explained that a Draft Agricultural Policy is in place, and with the advent of  the new Government there is need to rush up to finalise the policy.