Livestock breeders have expressed dismay at their “omission” by President Adama Barrow during his Meet-the-People’s tour. 

Speaking at a news conference organised by Gam-Sheep Breeders Association in Senegambia, Modou Sowe said: “When you look at the presidential tour that is going on, most of his speeches are [about] crop [and farmers]. What [about] livestock?

“We have seen the government supporting crop production but can we ask ourselves ‘what is the support the livestock breeders have during the past ten years?’”

“We have seen the government giving the crop farmers seeds, we have seen them giving fertilisers, but let’s ask ourselves what they are giving us,” he added.

Mr Sowe said crop production in The Gambia is mostly during the rainy season, adding but livestock is all year round.

“Why can’t we focus on livestock to develop the economy of The Gambia? 

“Crop is just six months after the rains nobody is cropping again [except] the women in the horticultural farming. But does this stop the livestock breeders from breeding?

“Are we not breeding still now? Do we stop? No? And the government needs to understand that we need to develop more and more.”

Mr Sowe said they would prefer the government to help establish a Ministry of Livestock that will help give “100% focus to the livestock [sector]”.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba