Posted by By: Modou Kanteh, Maimuna Jarjou
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Gambia office in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters is implementing a 4 million Euros project for Oyster farmers in the Gambia. The project is devoted to conducting value chain analyses and the development of value chain upgrading strategies from 2022-2025.Stakeholders for the project met recently at the Kairaba Hotel to plan an oyster’s value chain.
The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries Omar S. M. Gibba duel on the importance of the fisheries sectors with enormous potentials with significant role in the socio-economic development of the country. “These sectors reduce poverty and rural-urban migration, enhanced revenue and foreign exchange earnings from fish trading and fisheries products,” Gibba said.
Mr. Gibba said his ministry has put in place the required tools to provide for the appropriate fisheries and aquaculture development in the country.He pointed out that all these initiatives are put in place to provide the enabling environment to properly guide and manage the fisheries, aquaculture and related aquatic related and resources related issues.
The FAO country representative Ms. Moshibudi Rampedi welcomed the delegates and said the project is to focus on the productivity and competitiveness of fisheries and aquaculture value chains, economic, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
Madam Rampedi illustrates FAO’s support for the Gambia’s efforts to transform the aquatic food system for employment and social development by improving working conditions for women as well as environmental recovery and preservation of the natural capital.
She indicated that the project is a global initiative in support of fisheries and aquaculture value chain in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific countries.