FAO Country Representative and the Fisheries Minister cutting the ribbon during the official handing over ceremony ©FAO/Amadou Bah

Towards making fisheries more productive and sustainable for Zero Hunger

13 July 2020, Banjul — The Gambian Government and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have renewed commitment to deepen their partnerships to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) especially ending hunger and poverty without leaving no one behind.

Mr. James Gomez, Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources and Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative in The Gambia made the pledge during the handing over of  aquaculture facilities to the community of Jahally and the environs in Upper Fulladou West, Central River region South on 7 July.

The multi-million dalasi intervention is envisaged to create employment and income generating opportunities for youth and women groups who would be contracted for feed production and marketing. The fish feed mill and aquaculture centre located at Jahally and another aquaculture centre in Kuloro are expected to benefit the entire nation. The aquaculture hatcheries in Jahally and Kuloro will provide quality fingerlings for faish farming in the freshwaters and salt waters whilst the fish feed meal will provide quality feed for aquaculture development across the country.

Towards making aquaculture a business

FAO provided the aquaculture facilities and capacity building through an FAO funded Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) titled “Support to enhancing the capacity of youth and women for employment in aquaculture”. The project was designed to support the transformation of aquaculture in The Gambia in to an economically, financially, self-sustaining and employment generating sector – all of which are prerequisites for achieving the SDGs. Overall, the project was successful in achieving the desired goal of supporting the aquaculture sector in The Gambia. Catfish and tilapia hatcheries were constructed for the production of affordable, quality fingerlings. The emphasis is put on involving youth and women.

Within the framework of the FAO-Gambia cooperation programme 2018-2021 and as part of the implementation of United Nations Decade for Action and commitment to achieve Agenda 2030, FAO has already provided various in-service trainings for grow-out farmers, fingerling and feed producers and fisheries extension staff. The aim is to strengthen their capacity in feed production, adoption of good aquaculture practices and to have the technical know-how to establish aquaculture systems as a business that can generate income for all.

In her handing over statement, Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi, FAO Country Representative expressed appreciation to the Gambian Government through the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources for its “firm commitment and priority” given to matters relating to the development of aquaculture for food and nutrition security.

She said; “FAO congratulates the government of The Gambia for setting aquaculture as one of the priority interventions for job creation. FAO is ready to support production of good quality fish seed (fingerlings) and quality feed. To reduce pressure on capture fisheries, reduce the demand –supply disequilibria and help avert imminent stock depletion noting rising needs of households”.

Ms. Rampedi further noted that youth and women engagement in fish farming should create a source of income and supply of  proteins. She therefore described the provision of the facilities as timely to reduce pressure on the natural resource base and expressed optimism that the Ministry of Fisheries will provide effective management and ensure sustainability of the investment.

She reflected  the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food supply chain and the need for social protection and safety nets. She said; “We have an obligation to work together to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. ”.

Mr. James F.P. Gomez, Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources thanked FAO for the assistance noting that the intervention is in line with the fisheries policy and outputs one and two of the National Development Plan 2018 – 2021. He noted that his Ministry is proud of its partnership with FAO, cataloguing some of the achievements made since 2017. These include the provision of an improved and environmentally friendly fish-smoking house for the women of Gunjur, Kombo South; the development and launch of the Ministry’s website and Fisheries Information System; series of capacity development targeting the fisher folk and fisheries staff.

Mr. Gomez noted that despite progress, the fisheries sector is faced with several challenges including Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported fishing practices and climate change induced hazards and phenomena which undermines the productivity of the sector. He explained that the fisheries sector is the 3rd largest contributor to the GDP and if managed well, more resources can be generated for both the national economy and for individuals.

He expressed optimism that with the help of partners like FAO, more can be achieved in the drive to make fisheries more productive and sustainable.

Mr. Gomez underlined the need for concerted actions from all stakeholders to address the challenges and to develop and exploit the potentials of aquaculture in the country.  He reaffirmed their commitment to continue working with FAO to ensure sustainable development of fisheries especially aquaculture for the eradication of poverty, hunger and malnutrition.

Bamba Banja, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Fisheries and Water Resources who chaired the ceremony described the aquaculture facilities as national assets and assured FAO that youth and women would be fully engaged in the utilization of the facilities. He also promised that his Ministry will ensure that effectively management and sustainability of the facilities. 

Other speakers including Sherriff Aba Sanyang, Governor for CRR and Mamadou Lamin Baldeh, Chief of Lower Fulladou West challenged the beneficiary communities to make the facilities functional and durable to improve the consumption quality fish and increase the income of farmers as well as the national economy.

Musa Camara, Alkalo [Village Head] of Jahally, thanked The Gambian Government and FAO for the assistance and appealed for it to be replicated in other communities across the country.

In a related development, another Fish Feed Mill Centre was handed over to the community in Kuloro, Kombo East District of the West Coast Region on 8 July by FAO through the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources.