Farmers laud FAO and NaLOA conflict prevention initiative
"This sensitisation campaign is empowering us to become more conflict-sensitive".– Sulayman Darboe
25 January 2021, Banjul - In 2019, a conflict between farmers and herdsmen in Kaur in Central River Region turned violent resulting in injuries. Similar incidents happened in Sankuya, Karantaba and in a case that occurred in Kani Kunda, the herdsman was fined after his cattle destroyed a farmer’s crop. Most often, these conflicts occur because animals stray into farms and destroy crops. Herdsmen are constrained because grazing land and cattle tracks leading to drinking points are farmed upon or sold out to estate agencies.
These problems if left unchecked could escalate into greater violent conflicts. To avert such an occurrence, FAO under the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) funded Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change (AACC) project, has partnered with Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) through the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and National Livestock Owners Association (NaLOA) to raise awareness. The conflict prevention campaign is in the form of a caravan with the Fansung Jamano Drama Group. The group is performing on themes around care for livestock, conflict sensitivity and promoting dialogue in resolving problems.
In the ongoing campaign, farmers in the North Bank Region have hailed the initiative, describing it as good and timely. Pa Jallow a farmer in Pakau Njogu expressed delight at the initiative. "Care must be taken to coordinate efforts at the community level to protect both livestock and crop farmers", he said. He urged his colleagues to avoid farming on cattle tracks and selling lands to estate owners without considering the welfare of livestock.
Sualyman Darboe of Mandori village commended the actors from the Fansung Jamano Drama Group for driving home the message with much clarity. "This sensitisation campaign is empowering us to become more conflict-sensitive", he said.
In Kunjo, Imam Fang Seedy Kanagie harped on the religious significance of caring for animals and urged his community to take good care of animals and avoid conflict. Farmer Binta Njie a spoke on the benefits in gardening. She urged for peaceful coexistence amongst themselves and that they all should be more conscious of the needs of the animals as well. "We must take ownership, and genuinely address our collective problems" she said.
Other farmers thanked FAO for the funding and commended NaLOA for engaging communities in raising awareness on problems that often lead to conflict.