Dr Demba B Jallow, director general of The Gambia Livestock Marketing Association, has explained the high cost of consumed meat in the country, adding that 70% of the animals are imported to the country.

“We also face difficulty in registration and ensuring compliance, butchers barely pay their registration fee while farmers do not want to pay their cattle tax.

“The seasonal fluctuation in the price of animals is also a challenge since 70% of the animals that are slaughtered in butcher houses are being imported from neighbouring countries which makes it difficult for them to have a reliable supply of animals here especially when the dealers are very poor financially,” he said.

According to him, they determine the price of meat tariffs through consultative forums with dealers, butchers, stakeholders, securities, and local government authorities, for sustainability and realism.

“Part of our functions is to also collect fees from dealer permits paid to the consultation fund and collect cattle tax, which we recycle back to the farmer in the form of training, inputs, and vaccination. 

“The monthly subvention of the agency is usually limited to the effect that they may not be able to rehabilitate slaughterhouses or butcher shops,” he added. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba