Sheep and goat farmers in The Gambia are grappling with the deadly Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) which is a bane of the livestock sector. Farmers generate at least 45% profit on the cost of treatment, while returns to capital invested is even greater, according to experts. This is due to the high loss in productivity from diseases such as the PPR in small ruminants, and the recurrent loss and reduction in profit due to parasitic infections.

Cognizant of the socio-economic importance of small ruminants and the devastating nature of PPR to small ruminant production, FAO through Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change in The Gambia Project (AACCP), in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), is supporting a PPR vaccination exercise in 10 districts of the project intervention regions of NBR, CRRN and URRN at a tune of GMD 1,645,800. The exercise is part of FAO’s support to the Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture and the Department of Livestock Services in the implementation of the Global Strategy for the Control and Eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) from the face of the earth by 2030.

 In the Gambia, the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR)is endemic with annual surges of epidemic out-breaks that wipe out a significant number of small ruminant population annually.

The Livestock Census, 2016 reported that disease out-breaks were the main reasons given for exits of animals in our flocks (Sheep 47.2%: Goats 50.1 %,). Therefore, disease prevention and control programs through vaccinations is without doubt the most cost-effective means of prevention, control and even eradication of infectious animal diseases in the country.

Meanwhile, vaccination against PPR is a cost-effective strategy that increases the productivity of small ruminant that will assist in poverty alleviation and the improvement of food security.

Livestock officials indicated that the vaccination campaign will among other things prevent outbreaks of PPR disease, increase production and productivity, incomes through livestock sales, and increased intake of animal protein. They argued that the exercise will immensely reduce annual losses in productivity of small ruminants from PPR and help farmers build wealth.