According to Gambia's Daily Observer, the two-day training which was centred on poultry production, management, care and treatment, was organised by the Regional Agricultural Directorate in Kerewan, in partnership with the Livestock and Horticulture Development Project (LHDP).

Speaking during the training, the Regional Agricultural director, Dr Saikou E Sanyang, thanked the poultry farmers for their dedication and commitment in the diversification of food production.

He said poultry production contributes to poverty reduction, nutritional development and boost food production.

Dr Sanyang said quality production of poultry would ease marketing and increase income. He reiterated that timely management of feed, care and treatment is crucial to boost production and called on farmers to adhere to best agricultural practices.

NBR Agric boss praised President Jammeh and African Development Bank for the design of comprehensive project that would transform the lives of farmers and increase income capacity. Momodou Darboe, the Regional Livestock officer, reiterated that increase in poultry production would obviously boost diversification and sustainable development.

He said LHDP has supported communities with infrastructure to increase production, provide poultry birds, feeds and vaccine.

He used the opportunity to thank IFAD & ADB for complementing government’s development objectives of attaining food security and poverty reduction.

Alasan CMB Bah, a senior Agriculture officer, called on farmers to be proactive in sharing information on marketing and management of poultry keeping. According to him, his department is very much committed to the welfare of farmers, and called on them to support what he described as a noble crusade.

The Regional Livestock officer, Momodou Darboe, underscored the importance the LHDP attached to empowering farmers to be self-reliant and to contribute to poverty reduction. He said capacity development of poultry farmers on best practices would obviously enable farmers to take great care of poultry birds, with a view to increase production and nutritional development.

The president of Jikimar Poultry Production Centre, Ramata Cham assured them of their resolve to sustain the gain registered in the poultry sector. He then commended the farmers for their commitment and dedication on poultry production and for building good rapport with frontline extension workers on adoption of extension advice.

Speaking earlier, Momodou Kinteh, senior livestock assistant, reiterated that there is need for farmers to adhere to proper upkeep of poultry birds, record keeping and uphold to extension advice. He opined that beneficiary farmers need to promote networking and communication in sharing best practices.

Other speakers included Abdou Nyang of Nyang Kunda, Ousman Sarr of Jamagen Joka, Aja Mambuso Njie of Kerr Pateh Koreh and Ndey Drammeh of Farafenni Murtani. They all praised the LHDP for their support and foresight in strengthening farmers’ capacity on poultry production. They said that the provision of infrastructure and poultry birds feed and regular treatment of poultry birds has greatly contributed to boosting production; that the poultry project has created employment opportunities for women, youths, as well as reduced rural-urban migration.