Nine farmers have received a 3.5 million dalasis micro finance loan through the Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP). 

The handing over ceremony was held at the Department of Livestock Service Hall in Abuko.

Amie Fabureh, minister of Agriculture, said the initiative was laudable, adding that “this is what we need as a country to support our farmers, so that they can be empowered as well as benefit from agriculture.”

She said this is the first disbursement of the microfinance loan scheme being carried out by GTUCCU and Supersonicz Micro Finance limited under her ministry.

According to Ms Fabureh, the objective of the project is to contribute to the improvement of the livelihood of pastoral communities in The Gambia by strengthening the productivity and resilience of rural communities and stimulating business entrepreneurship in the livestock sector.

She said small ruminant farmers are very important and “as a country we need to do things by ourselves rather than depending on other countries”.

Mamud Njie, director of Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project, said supporting small ruminant farmers is one of the major components of the project. 

He said GTUCCU and Supersonicz Micro Finance were selected to lead the micro finance for the small ruminant farmers. 

He expressed hope that with their knowledge and experience in micro finance, they can help the ministry meets its goal of supporting farmers. 

Dawda Kujabi, deputy general manager GTUCCU, thanked the ministry of Agriculture for the trust they bestowed on them. 

He said when they were contacted to oversee the micro finance project, they immediately put their house in order to ensure that it becomes a success. 

He said GTUCCU has 8 branches in the country, so this fund can be accessible to anyone, adding that accessibility is one of the major interventions of credit unions.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba

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