Livestock sellers in The Gambia say sales are slowing ahead of the Tobaski festival, blaming the rising cost of animals on the weakening of the dalasi against the CFA. 

In the Greater Banjul Area, traders told Gambiana that the higher exchange rate has made it difficult to import rams and cattle from neighbouring Senegal and Guinea, countries where the CFA is the standard currency.

“We brought our rams here, but buyers are not coming. The CFA is too high,” Amadou Jeng, a ram seller said.

He explained that many livestock suppliers have pulled back this season, citing currency losses as a major concern.

Another seller, Abdoulie Saine, said the unfavourable exchange rate is forcing traders to raise prices.

“People don’t understand that we are not just increasing prices for profit. The CFA is killing our margins,” he said.

He said prices have risen sharply, adding “a cow that used to cost D30,000 now goes for D50,000. This is hurting our business badly.”

Traders say most of their livestock comes from across the border, making the exchange rate a critical factor in pricing

“We buy in CFA and sell in dalasi, so we are losing money,” Alieu Jallow also said, adding that “last year, we didn’t have this problem.”

Beyond the currency crunch, sellers are also facing logistical challenges.

Abdoul Malick Jallow, a cattle trader, pointed to the lack of basic infrastructure.

“We need a borehole in this market. There’s no clean water for the animals,” he said.

By Adama Makasuba