The Gambia Livestock Association (GLA) has commenced touring 50 Pastoral Field Schools across the country.

Pastoral Field Schools are centres established for farmers in the country to gain skills training on animal husbandry and production.

The tour came after GLA trained 56 of its members selected from various communities of the four administrative regions of the country in Mansakonko and Soma village.

The trainees now heading the centres are tasked with helping farmers to look into challenges faced with animal husbandry, production and health.

Speaking to the state broadcaster via telephone interview, Ebrima Jallow, president of the Association said: “these are farmer’s field schools where individual farmers are selected within a community and they are being trained on animal husbandry, production, and health.”

Mr. Jallow said the participants were tasked to represent the association at their various communities where farmers would come and seek assistant on animal husbandry and lodge their problems.

He said this initiative will help farmers a lot in addressing their plights, adding that the extension workers cannot do it all alone, “this is going to help farmers as the farmers are being communicated to by other farmers.”

Despite lamenting about the lack of flow in communication, he said these trainees will serve as sub-extension workers to help farmers with knowledge and skills.

However, Mr. Jallow expressed concern that “when I was in Garawol we were informed by the community that they have lost about 80% of their donkeys. So I wonder how those farmers are going to face this rainy season.”

He called on the relevant authorities to quickly do something about it and avoid any future challenges for the farmers.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba