Scores of livestock dealers’ have expressed fears that scarcity of rams could hit the country ahead of Tobaski due to the border closure with Senegal. 

Yero Sowe, a dealer in rams, said the number of rams and goats in the market is very low compare to the previous years.

“This time of last year (2019) the market was full of small ruminants, especially rams. 

“Even outside the market was occupied with rams but presently rams are so limited in the market. 

“If the trend continues like this there will be a shortage of rams in the market. 

“There is possibility of the trend changing but when it fails to change, there will be a shortage.

“The lowest price for a ram currently at the market is six-thousand-dalasi (D6, 000), and some rams cost D10, 000 to D20, 000 depending on the size of the rams.” 

Omar Jah, also a dealer in rams, said the low number of rams in the market is as a result of border closure between the Gambia and Senegal.

“The Gambia does not have much rams and the Senegalese rams alone cannot be sufficient for Gambians and Senegalese population. 

“Mechanisms should be put in place for the sub-regional borders to be opened to ensure importation of rams,” he added.

Samba Camara said: “Previously, if Tobaski approaches all the market premises used to be filled with ruminants but this year the numbers are very small in the markets 

“Most of the rams in the market used to come from Mali, Mauritania and Senegal. Many do not like the Gambian breed due to its smallness.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba