The Gambia livestock

master plan
Government of The Gambia
The Gambia livestock master plan

Sirak Bahta1, Kidus Nigussie2, Charles Mensah1, Francis Wanyoike1, Badara Loum2,
Joshua Aboah1, Fatou Gaye1,2, Immaculate Omondi1 and Njie Mamud3

1. International Livestock Research Institute

2. Private consultants
3. Small Ruminant Productivity Enhancement Project (SRPEP)

May 2023
©2023 International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)

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ISBN: 92–9146–767–7

Citation: Bahta, S., Nigussie, K., Mensah, C., Wanyoike, F., Loum, B., Aboah, J., Gaye, F., Omondi, I. and Njie, M. 2023. The Gambia
livestock master plan. ILRI Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.

Patron: Professor Peter C Doherty AC, FAA, FRS

Animal scientist, Nobel Prize Laureate for Physiology or Medicine–1996

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Contents

Tables vi

Figures viii

Acknowledgements ix

Foreword xi

Foreword xii

Foreword xiii

1 Executive summary xiv

1.1 The livestock master plan and its support to the Gambia’s livestock sector xiv

1.2 Key highlights of the cattle value chain roadmap xv

1.3 Key highlights of small ruminant (sheep and goats) value chain roadmap xviii

1.4 Key highlights of the chicken value chain roadmap xx

2 Introduction 1

2.1 Livestock master plan (LMP) to support the Gambian livestock sector 2

3 Cattle value chain roadmap (2023–2027) 3

3.1 A summary of results and conclusions from the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS) 3

3.2 Five-year vision for the cattle value chain 5

3.3 Description of cattle production systems 5

3.4 Opportunities, challenges and strategies 6

3.5 Investment scenarios analysed in the five-year investment plan 6

3.6 Overall livestock master plan targets under the intervention scenario 6

3.7 Cattle improvement interventions 7

3.8 Investment budget 11

3.9 Impacts of interventions 13

3.10 Complementary conditions required for the success of investments 17

3.11 Gender and social inclusion implications for cattle value chain development 17

3.12 Conclusions 17

iii
iv The Gambia livestock master plan

4 Small ruminant value chain roadmap (2023–2027) 19

4.1 A summary of results and conclusions from the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS) 19

4.2 Five-year vision for the small ruminant value chain 20

4.3 Description of small ruminant production systems 20

4.4 Opportunities, challenges and strategies 21

4.5 Investment scenarios analysed 21

4.6 Overall livestock master plan targets under the intervention scenario 21

4.7 Small ruminant improvement interventions 24

4.8 Investment budget 25

4.9 Impacts of interventions 26

5 Chicken value chain roadmap (2023–2027) 32

5.1 A summary of results and conclusions from the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS) 32

5.2 Five-year vision for the chicken value chain 33

5.3 Investment scenarios analysed 33

5.4 Description of chicken production systems 33

5.5 Overall livestock master plan targets under the intervention scenario 34

5.6 Opportunities, challenges and strategies 35

5.7 Improving backyard indigenous chickens (BIC) (2023–2027) 35

5.8 Scaling up specialized commercial chicken (SCC) production (2023–2027) 37

5.9 Investment budget 41

5.10 Impact of chicken improvement interventions on total chicken meat and egg production
and GDP contribution 42

5.11 Complementary conditions required for the success of investments 43

5.12 Gender and social inclusion implications for chicken value chain development 44

5.13 Conclusions 44

6 Complementary and added value of the livestock master plan to the livestock budget planning
of the Government of the Gambia 45

6.1 The Gambia Livestock Master Plan (LMP) 45

6.2 Value addition of the LMP process 46

6.3 Summary of existing agriculture and livestock plans 47

6.4 Budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and Department of Livestock Services 50

7 References 51

Annexes 52

Annexe Table 1: Cattle production system – average productivity parameter 53

Annexe Table 2: Goat production system – average productivity parameter 55

The Gambia livestock master plan v

Annexe Table 3: Five-year investment budget of cattle interventions 57

Annexe Table 4: Activity timeline and sequencing of cattle interventions: Gantt chart 65

Annexe Table 5: Five-year investment budget of small ruminant improvement interventions 70

Annexe Table 6: Sheep production system – average productivity parameters 74

Annexe Table 7: Activities timeline and sequencing: Gantt chart 77

Annexe Table 8: Production and reproduction parameters of backyard indigenous chickens 79

Annexe Table 9: Five-year investment budget of chicken meat and egg production improvement
interventions 81

Annexe Table 10: Activity timeline and sequencing of chicken meat and egg improvement interventions:
Gantt chart 84
Tables

Table 1: Cattle population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 7

Table 2: Dairy and beef roadmap investment cost by intervention areas 11

Table 3: Cattle meat production projected for five years under the investment scenario 15

Table 4: Cattle milk production projected for five years under the investment scenario 15

Table 5: Cattle meat, milk, manure and draught power production projected for five years under the
investment scenario 16

Table 6: Total cattle GDP contribution projected for five years under the investment scenario
(in million GMD) 16

Table 7: Goat population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 22

Table 8: Sheep population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 22

Table 9: Goat meat production targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 23

Table 10: Mutton production targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 23

Table 11: Small ruminants roadmap investment cost by intervention areas 25

Table 12: Change in goat meat, mutton and other products under the with intervention (WI) scenario 29

Table 13: Change in contribution to GDP of goat and sheep products under the with intervention (WI)
scenario 30

Table 14: Backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) and specialized commercial chicken (SCC) population
targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 34

Table 15: Production of eggs and meat from backyard indigenous chickens (BIC) and specialized
commercial chickens (SCC) targeted for five years under the scenario with
additional investment (WI) 34

Table 16: Number of hens and chicken eggs and meat production in backyard indigenous
chicken projected for 2022 to 2027 35

Table 17: Projected increase in the number of backyard indigenous chickens (BIC) and per cent
growth rate under two scenarios 36

Table 18: Changes in GDP contribution of backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) for 2022 and 2027 37

Table 19: Increase in numbers of chickens and egg and meat production in specialized commercial
chicken (SCC) systems 38

Table 20: Projected annual feed requirement estimates for commercial chicken in the Gambia
in the coming five years 39

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The Gambia livestock master plan vii

Table 21: Projected increases in the number of commercial farms and average farm size
under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 39

Table 22: Projected increases in the number of commercial chickens and per cent growth rate
under two scenarios 39

Table 23: Projected estimate of increase in the number of commercial day-old chick demand in the
with additional investment (WI) scenario 40

Table 24: Annual income per animal from women-owned backyard chickens in 2023 and 2037
under the scenario with additional investment (WI) 41

Table 25: GDP contribution from the specialized commercial chicken (SCC) system, 2022 and 2027 41

Table 26: Chicken roadmap investment cost by intervention areas 42

Table 27: Backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) and specialized commercial chicken (SCC) meat and egg
production in the scenario with additional investment (WI) 43

Table 28: Estimate of total chicken meat and eggs GDP contribution in the with additional investment
scenario (in Million GMD) 43

Table 29: Consolidated budget for the LMP priority livestock value chains 46

Table 30: Estimated Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan II (GNAIP II) costs by priority
intervention areas 49
Figure

Figure 1: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the cattle value chain, 2023–2027 xvii

Figure 2: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the small ruminant value chain, 2023–2027 xix

Figure 3: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the chicken value chain, 2023–2027 xxi

Figure 4: Dairy and beef investments by intervention areas and source of funding 12

Figure 5: Internal rate of return (IRR) for cattle under a 20-year investment plan 13

Figure 6: Cattle income per animal under business as usual (BAU) and with investment (WI)
scenarios in 15 years (2023–2037) 14

Figure 7: Small ruminant investment proportion by intervention areas and source of funding 26

Figure 8: Internal rate of return (IRR) for goat and sheep investments over 20 years 27

Figure 9: Projected annual income per goat under the business as usual (BAU) and with intervention (WI)
scenarios in 15 years (by 2037) 28

Figure 10: Projected annual income per sheep under the business as usual (BAU) and with intervention (WI)
scenarios in 15 years (by 2037) 28

Figure 11: Chicken investments by intervention areas and source of funding 42

Figure 12: The GNAIP II budget proportion for the main components of the livestock sector 49

viii
Acknowledgements

The development of the Gambia livestock master plan (LMP) was undertaken by a joint team of livestock and
planning experts from the Department of Livestock Services and the International Livestock Research Institute
(ILRI). The analytical work was carried out under the guidance of Mr Mamud, Project Director of the Small Ruminant
Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP), and Dr Abdou Ceesay, Director General of the Department of Livestock
Services. The work was funded by SRPEP under the Islamic Development Bank loan for the Gambia Livestock Master
Plan Project 2020–2022, implemented by ILRI.

A Technical Advisory Committee chaired by the SRPEP project director reviewed and made recommendations
related to ensuring progress in achieving the outputs of the LMP project. It comprised experts from key livestock
departments and other relevant government and academic agencies of the Gambia. Once completed, all the
deliverables of the Gambia LMP were reviewed by eminent livestock experts within and outside ILRI and experts
within the Gambia Ministry of Agriculture. They were found credible and defensible.

Many capable individuals and supportive institutions and agencies contributed to the genesis and realization of the
Gambia LMP. Without the hard work and goodwill of all of them, the LMP would not have been completed.

We had great luck finding very competent and hardworking professionals to be members of the Technical Advisory
Committee. The following are members of the team who contributed immensely to the data collection and validation
of parameters and findings:

Experts Expertise

Dr Sulayman Sonko Livestock Production and Health

Mr Joseph Faye Cattle Breeder
Dr Pa Ousman Ceesay Livestock Production and Health
Mr Jerreh Ceesay Dairy Farmer
Dr Duto Sainey Fofana Livestock Production and Health
Mr Ebou Jobe Livestock Production
Dr Famara Sanyang Livestock Production and Health
Ms Isatou Savage Livestock Production
Mr Ebrima Jallow Sheep Breeder/Farmer
Mr Nerry Corr Small Ruminant Production and Health
Mr Basirou Jatta Poultry Expert
Mr Ousman Sanyang Poultry Expert
Mr Momodou Mass Jobe Poultry Expert/Farmer
Mrs Tida Ceesay Bojang Poultry Farmer
SRPEP staff members Project Experts

ix
x The Gambia livestock master plan

The team would also like to thank Dr Duto Sainey Fofana, Mr Omar Njie and Dr Ousman Ceesay for critically
reviewing the documents.

We would also like to express our gratitude to SRPEP, RC Engineering and Francis Jones Associates (Joint Venture),
particularly Mr Mamud Njie, project director; Mr Nerry Corr, livestock value chain specialist; Mr Amet Sallah,
monitoring and evaluation expert; and Mr Sait Touray, project accountant for their efficient project management and
insights on the Gambia LMP.

The team’s warm appreciation and sincere thanks also go to Mr Hassan Jallow, permanent secretary of the Ministry
of Agriculture; and members of ILRI management Dr Isabelle Baltenweck, program leader of Policies, Institutions
and Livelihoods, and Dr Iain Wright, deputy director general for Research and Development – Integrated Sciences.
The team gained immensely from the constant and exemplary support and expertise of the following colleagues: Dr
Nils Teufel, senior agricultural economist, ILRI; Francis Wanyoike, research officer – value chain expert, ILRI; Dr Derek
Chan, value chain expert, ILRI; Dr Joshua Aboah, value chain expert, ILRI; Charles Mensah, research officer – livestock
policy expert, ILRI; Dr Joseph Karugia, policy and foresight analysis team leader, ILRI; and Prof Charles Frederick
Nicholson from the University of Wisconsin - external reviewer, Judy Kimani, communication officer, ILRI; Meron
Mulatu, communication officer, ILRI; and Paul Karaimu, publishing manager, ILRI.

In addition, contributions by the following persons offered valuable technical insights, information and good
counsel: Kidus Nigussie, herd modeller, ILRI consultant; Dr Badara Loum, consultant and local project coordinator;
Mrs Fatou Ndeye Gaye, consultant and gender expert; and Ali Galol, monitoring and evaluation consultant.

On behalf of the SRPEP and ILRI teams, we sincerely thank all these dear friends and colleagues for their invaluable
contributions to the success of this significant work. The team hopes the resulting Gambia LMP deliverables will
prove helpful to the Gambia in its efforts to attract private sector investments and help small-scale livestock farmer
groups, semi-commercial and commercial farmer groups, and other stakeholders benefit more from the livestock
sector.

Sirak Bahta, PhD

Senior Agricultural Economist
Project Leader, The Gambia Livestock Master Plan
ILRI
Foreword

The Gambia is a country in the far west of Africa surrounded by Senegal in all
directions except the west, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. The country
is considered the smallest in mainland Africa with a land size of 10,689 square
kilometres. The country’s population is around two and a half million, with a gross
domestic product (GDP) of USD 2.08 billion, or USD 835.6 per capita.

The economy of the country relies on agricultural activities (fishing as well

as crop and livestock farming) besides the service and industry sectors. The
agricultural sector is significantly vulnerable to a tropical and Sahelian climate
that is characterized by a dry season from November to April/May and the rainy
season from May/June to October, with heavy rains experienced between June
and October. In the last decade, the contribution of the agricultural sector to the
country’s GDP has declined significantly; the sector contributed to nearly 20% of
the Gambian GDP in 2020 compared to more than one-third (35.2%) in 2010·

According to the Second Gambian National Agricultural Investment Plan, more

than half a million smallholder households are engaged in agriculture and natural
resources production, and more than two-thirds of the rural labour force derive
their livelihoods and income from agriculture-related activities. In this respect,
Gambian women remain the majority who are employed in the agricultural sector
compared to their men counterparts. Therefore, the sector remains crucial for enhancing food security and nutrition as well as
poverty alleviation in the country and for vulnerable households in particular.

The livestock sector contributes 40% of the agricultural GDP and employs the largest number of people in the agricultural
sector after the crop subsector. Cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats), equines (donkeys and horses) and pigs are among
the livestock species kept by the Gambian livestock producers. Poultry production and beekeeping are also widely practised.

Overall, the livestock sector in the Gambia is constrained by widespread animal diseases; shortage of animal feed, particularly
during the dry season; poor production capabilities of local livestock due to low genetic performance of the indigenous
breeds (which include N’Dama cattle, Djallonke sheep and West African Dwarf goats); poor infrastructure; low access
to extension, breeding (including artificial insemination) and veterinary services; poor livestock research and innovation
capacities; lack of access to affordable and reliable financing schemes; and weak capacity of the relevant sector institutions.

This livestock master plan will help the Government of the Gambia modernize the livestock sector so that it achieves the aims
and objectives of livestock farmers and makes sustainable contributions to the government’s development objectives as
enshrined in its National Development Plan.

Finally, I would like to thank the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) for their expertise and professionalism in
developing this very important master plan for the Gambia.

Dr Demba Sabally
Minister of Agriculture
The Gambia

xi
Foreword

In the Gambia, the livestock sector contributes 40% of the agricultural GDP and
employs the largest number of people in the agricultural sector after the crop
subsector.

Overall, livestock farming is the backbone of rural communities’ food security

and nutrition and acts as a source of income, employment, livelihoods and asset
saving for the involved smallholder producers and households.

The Gambia livestock master plan will guide the government’s objectives
for the livestock sector – to reduce poverty, increase economic growth
and improve food and nutrition security – as enshrined in the National
Development Plan.

I wish to thank the Islamic Development Bank and ILRI for supporting and
developing the Gambia livestock master plan.

Mamud Njie
Project Director
Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP)

xii
Foreword

Agriculture is a vital sector of the Gambian economy, with an estimated 70%

of the country’s labour force depending on the sector for their livelihoods. The
livestock sector in the Gambia contributes about 40% of the agricultural GDP
and 3% of the overall GDP. In 2019, the agricultural sector contributed about
22% to the country’s GDP, and about 32% of the labour force was involved
in active primary agricultural production, according to the Gambia’s national
statistics.

The performance of the agricultural and livestock sectors plays a key role in
poverty reduction and enhanced food security in the Gambia. The livestock
sector in particular plays an important role in creating livelihood opportunities
and income generation for immediate use and savings among rural inhabitants.
Despite the importance of the livestock sector, it is faced with some challenges
such as lack of access to feed, fodder and water; disease outbreaks; limited
veterinary services; a low level of market linkages; and lack of improved
germplasm, all of which hinder the desired sector progress.

To prioritize and target support for the livestock sector as an essential

element of agriculture, the Government of the Gambia, through the Islamic
Development Bank, requested ILRI to provide technical assistance in
developing a comprehensive livestock master plan (LMP). The LMP includes a thorough and systematic analysis of the
Gambia’s livestock sector, a livestock sector strategy and value chain-specific investment roadmaps. The investment
roadmaps constitute a detailed five-year livestock sector investment plan meant to help increase and better target public
and private investments. The LMP enables more substantial and better-targeted livestock sector investments from finance
ministries, development partners and private sector investors.

The Gambia LMP focuses on three key livestock value chains – cattle, small ruminants and poultry – and then highlights the
major interventions which could help achieve the country’s future objectives and targets. Some of the key interventions
proposed include more engagement of the private sector to spur increased investment in the feed and animal health
industries as well as in addressing the existing market gaps. I believe that the proposals provided in the LMP will inform
decisions made on investments for the livestock sector to improve its performance, increase farmers’ sources of income,
and subsequently lead to improved livelihoods through livestock.

ILRI has for the past decade been helping nations develop roadmaps for their livestock sectors upon request, in
collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the French Agricultural
Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). We wish to thank the Government of the Gambia and the
Islamic Development Bank for entrusting us with this task, and we wish to express our gratitude to our partners who have
collaborated with us towards the completion of this policy document.

Shirley Tarawali
Director General (a.i.)
ILRI

xiii
1 Executive summary

1.1 The livestock master plan and its support to

the Gambia’s livestock sector
The livestock sector is predominant in the livelihoods of the population of the Gambia, with cattle and chickens as
the most reared species in the country. The livestock sector in the Gambia contributed 13.8% of the agricultural
gross domestic product (GDP) and 2.6% of the overall GDP in 2019. However, the livestock sector is bedevilled by
a plethora of challenges including lack of access to feed, fodder and water; disease outbreaks; limited veterinary
services; a low level of market linkages; and lack of improved germplasm. Despite these challenges, there are
potential growth opportunities. The Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP) was commissioned to
address some of the challenges of the livestock sector, and this livestock master plan (LMP) is one of the project’s key
deliverables.

The LMP is a five-year plan expected to serve as a blueprint to increase support for the livestock sector by attracting
more targeted investment from finance ministries, development partners and the private sector. The roadmaps in
the LMP highlight the vision, targets, challenges, opportunities, strategies, recommended technology and policy
investments, and the expected outcomes in relation to Gambia’s development objectives. The Gambia LMP was
developed by scientists at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in collaboration with experts from the
Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and district officers, upon request from the Government of the Gambia and
through funding from the Islamic Development Bank. The LMP was reviewed by a Technical Advisory Committee
chaired by the SRPEP project.

The recommendations of the roadmaps are based on the conclusions from a livestock sector strategy, which
explored the impact of proposed interventions in response to value chain problems related to animal feed and
fodder, breeds, diseases and marketing. Cumulatively, the proposed intervention amounts to USD 44.2 million1,
with 75% of the amount coming from public funding and 25% expected from the private sector. Overall, the
interventions aimed at improving animal health account for the largest share (35%) of the total investment budget.
This is followed by education, research and extension service interventions at 33%, feed and feeding interventions at
14%, interventions for genetic improvement at 10%, and marketing interventions at 8%.

This report highlights the roadmaps for three livestock value chains – cattle, small ruminants (sheep and goats) and
chickens – earmarked for the five years from 2023 to 2027. The key highlights discussed in the report cover the main
interventions to improve the livestock sector and the projected impact of these interventions.

1. The exchange rate used for a USD is 60 GMD

xiv
The Gambia livestock master plan xv

1.2 Key highlights of the cattle value chain

roadmap
The interventions proposed (in collaboration with stakeholders and experts in the Gambia) for the improvement
of the cattle value chain in the Gambia address challenges pertaining to feed and fodder, animal health, genetic
improvement, education, research and extension services, and marketing investments.

1.2.1 Key interventions for improving the cattle value chain

Policy and legislation interventions: Four policy and legislation interventions designed to increase the availability
of feed for cattle and small ruminants are (i) the development of an implementation plan to operationalize the Forest
Act 1998 to ensure sustainable exploitation of range resources within designated areas; (ii) the completion of the
‘comprehensive/systematic monitoring and inventory of the available range resources and carrying capacity of the
rangelands’ conducted in 1986 by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Mixed
Farming and Resource Management Project for the Central River Region North, Central River Region South and
Upper River Region to include all production zones and feed and fodder resources; (iii) the limitation of export of
processed feed ingredients; and (iv) allocation of concessional supply for local livestock producers. For the genetic
improvement of cattle in the Gambia, the development of a cattle breeding policy within two years has been
outlined, along with the development of livestock extension policy guidelines and a legal framework within three
years.

Training and sensitization interventions: The main sensitization and training interventions for feed improvement
cover topics on the prevention and control of bushfires, planting of fodder and fodder trees as fences, harvesting
green feeds during the wet season and conserving them for use in the dry season. Other sensitization and training
topics are on the regeneration of degraded grazing areas and rangelands via the construction of access and slipways
to rivers.

The outlined training and sensitization interventions to improve the health conditions of livestock include the
revision of the curriculum to train livestock technicians, training of laboratory technologists and technicians of the
Central Veterinary Laboratory, building the capacity of trainers, provision of teaching materials and equipment
for the Livestock Training School of the Gambia College of Agriculture, and strengthening the monitoring and
regulation capacity of the veterinary council and the training of staff on disease surveillance and monitoring.
Sensitization of farmers on the selection and retention of good breeding bulls and heifers is also planned to
support the genetic improvement of cattle in the Gambia. Notable is the planned expansion of the sensitization on
the N’Dama breeding program. Also, refresher courses on artificial insemination (AI) for technicians and para-vets,
together with the provision of requisite equipment and supplies to the trained AI technicians, have been planned
for implementation.

Disease control interventions: The interventions outlined to improve the health conditions of cattle in the Gambia
include increasing the overall vaccination coverage of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia from 75% to 80%, and
of haemorrhagic septicaemia, black quarter and lumpy skin disease to 30%, within the five years from 2023 to 2027,
and full coverage in commercial dairy farms; and increasing anti-parasite treatment to 30% and anthelmintic use to
40% within the five years.

Infrastructural development: The outlined infrastructural investment aimed at improving the health conditions
in the cattle value chain in the Gambia includes: (i) the establishment and provision of equipment for 53 new
veterinary stations and improving the infrastructural conditions of six veterinary laboratories; (ii) the construction
of 70 boreholes and the development of 40 low-lying areas planned to ensure access to water for forage and
feed production; (iii) the establishment and strengthening of Regional Diagnostic Laboratories and the Central
Veterinary Laboratory for effective disease surveillance and the monitoring of vaccinations against contagious bovine
xvi The Gambia livestock master plan

pleuropneumonia and other transboundary animal diseases; and (iv) the enhancement of cold chain maintenance for
proper storage of vaccines, reagents and laboratory samples collected for confirmatory diagnosis.

For genetic improvement, the construction of one AI centre in the first year and one liquid nitrogen storage facility
within the five years, as well as upgrading the four existing training centres and four demonstration units, have been
planned for implementation.

For improving the marketing process in the cattle value chain, these infrastructural developments are outlined for
implementation within the five years: fencing of holding grounds; provision of watering facilities, slaughter slabs and
cold storage facilities; provision of market information systems in ten primary markets and two terminal markets; and
modernization of the ten existing slaughterhouses.

Provision of government subsidies: For genetic improvement, it is planned that the government will subsidize
private AI service providers and private veterinary experts to establish veterinary pharmacies and input shops. To
improve the marketing and processing activities, it is planned that the government will provide subsidies to private
actors to establish small-scale milk processing plants and modern abattoirs within five years.

1.2.2 Projected impacts for implementing interventions

Projections of the impact of the implementation of the outlined interventions include:

• 10.4% increase in the N’Dama cattle population (from 289,857 to 320,025 cattle) in five years (2023–2027).

• 11.3% increase in the Zebu/Gobra cattle population (from 6,701 to 7,399 cattle) in five years (2023–2027).

• 38.8% increase in total beef production (from 4,073 tonnes in the base year to 5,655 tonnes in 2027) under an
investment scenario where various cattle improvement interventions are implemented.

• N’Dama breeds will contribute 97% of the projected increase in total beef production.

• 116.7% increase in milk production (from 20.17 million litres in 2023 to 43.72 million litres in 2027).

• N’Dama breeds will contribute 83.6% of the total milk production

• Manure production and draught power are projected to increase by 11% and 12.2% respectively from 2023 to 2027.

• The contribution of cattle products to GDP is projected to increase by 4%, from 4.182 billion Gambian Dalasi
(GMD) in 2023 to GMD 4.347 billion in 2027.

• Estimated investment cost for improving the cattle value chain

To achieve the projected impacts in the cattle value chain, a total of USD 36,970,809 is estimated for the
interventions outlined to be implemented within the five years (2023–2027). Out of the total investment cost,
15% is expected to come from the private sector other sources and the remaining 85% from public funds. Figure 1
presents an overview of the estimated budgetary allocation for interventions proposed to help improve the cattle
value chain in the Gambia. The highest estimated budgetary allocation (39%) is planned for interventions that will
improve education, research and extension services in the Gambia. The remaining estimated budgetary allocations
in decreasing order are for animal health (33%), animal feed (12%), genetic improvement (9%) and marketing
investment (7%) interventions.

Most of the private-source funds (43%) will be allocated to improve the animal feed interventions. The
estimated budgetary allocation for education, research and extension service interventions is the second
highest (36%) of privately sourced funding. Therefore, for the next five years, the Gambian government can
facilitate the enabling environment for investments targeted at improving animal feeding, education, research
and extension services.
The Gambia livestock master plan xvii

Figure 1: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the cattle value chain, 2023–2027.

Estimated budget for the improvement of the cattle value chain

2023–2027

Proportion of estimated budgetary allocation

2023–2027
xviii The Gambia livestock master plan

1.3 Key highlights of small ruminant (sheep and

goats) value chain roadmap
The feed and health improvement interventions described above for the cattle value chain generally apply to the
small ruminant value chain as well. However, some interventions are specific to the small ruminant value chain for the
five years (2023–2027). These interventions include:

1.3.1 Key interventions for improving the small ruminant value chain
Policies and legislation intervention: Develop a breeding policy for sheep and goats in the next three years to
support genetic improvement.

Disease control interventions: Implement a routine mass vaccination (80% vaccination coverage) against peste
des petits ruminants (PPR) and pasteurellosis, and routine deworming campaigns (up to 60% of total sheep and
goats).

Provision of government subsidies: Provide matching grants for USD 2,000 as seed capital for the establishment of
private breeding farms and provide a 40% subsidy for commercial farms to implement zero-grazing schemes.

Organizational structure development: Provide resources to strengthen the local breed improvement activities
conducted by the West Africa Livestock Innovation Centre (WALIC).

Infrastructural development: Construct adequate marketing facilities at the level of the weekly markets at Sare
Ngai, Sare Bojo, Brikamaba, Wasu, Jareng, Samitenda, Farafeni, Bureng, Kerr Pateh, Ndugukebbeh, Fass Njaga Choi
and Panchang with fencing for livestock holding grounds, watering facilities, sheds, toilets and loading ramps. Also,
the construction of two more terminal markets in the coming five years is an infrastructural development intervention
targeted at improving marketing and processing in the small ruminant value chain.

1.3.2 Projected impacts for implementing interventions

Results of the LMP analysis indicate the following impact after implementing the interventions for the small ruminant
value chain:

• 54% increase in goat meat production (from 1,125 tonnes to 1,736 tonnes)

• 59% increase in sheep meat production (from 504 tonnes to 803 tonnes)

• 27.6% increase in total goat population (from 367,126 to 468,556) within five years (2023–2027)

• 28% increase in the total sheep population (from 191,540 to 244,459) within five years (2023 to 2027).

• Estimated investment cost for improving the small ruminant value chain

A total of USD 1,550,345 is budgeted for the interventions outlined to be implemented within the five years (2023–
2027) to achieve the impacts in the small ruminant value chain. Out of the total investment cost, 39% is expected to
come from the private sector among other sources while the remaining 61% will be from public funds. A summary of
the estimated budgetary allocation for interventions proposed to help improve the small ruminant value chain in the
Gambia is shown in Figure 2. The highest estimated budgetary allocation (40%) is planned for interventions that will
improve the availability of feed and forage for small ruminants in the Gambia. The remaining estimated budgetary
allocations are for marketing investment (29%), genetic improvement (22%) and animal health interventions (9%). No
budget is allocated for education, research and extension services because the estimated budgets are accounted for
in the budgets for the cattle value chain.
The Gambia livestock master plan xix

Most of the privately sourced funds (53%) will be allocated to marketing investments. The estimated budgetary
allocation for interventions to improve the availability of animal feeds is the second highest (34%) among privately
sourced funds. Therefore, within the next five years, the Gambian government can facilitate the enabling
environment for marketing investments and investments targeted at the animal feed industry.

Figure 2: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the small ruminant value chain, 2023–2027

Estimated budget for the improvement of the small ruminant value chain
2023–2027

Proportion of estimated budgetary allocation

2023–2027
xx The Gambia livestock master plan

1.4 Key highlights of the chicken value chain

roadmap
The health interventions listed under the cattle value chain apply to all other livestock value chains. However, some
interventions are specific to the chicken value chain in the Gambia.

1.4.1 Key interventions for improving the chicken value chain

Policy and legislation interventions: Enactment of regulations and acts to discourage the export of brans and
oil seed cakes outside the country within three years is planned to improve the availability of chicken feed in the
Gambia. For genetic improvement, the development of a backyard indigenous chicken breeding policy is outlined
for implementation in the next two years.

Training and sensitization interventions: Farmers will be trained on the utilization of locally available feed
supplements and different possible feed ration formulas to improve the chicken feeding situation in the Gambia.
Also, training manuals on backyard indigenous chicken improvement will be developed and farmers will be trained
within the five years.

Disease control interventions: To improve the health of chickens, vaccination against Newcastle disease and fowl
pox is planned for 65% of the backyard chicken population by the end of 2027, and the percentage of farmers
applying internal and external parasite treatments will be increased to 65% by the end of 2027.

Infrastructural development: The government will create veterinary outlets (pharmacies) and cold storage facilities
for vaccines to improve access to medication and benefit multiple livestock species.

Organizational development: To improve the marketing activities in the chicken value chain, the government will
support the establishment of cooperatives for producers with indigenous chicken breeds. To improve food safety in
the value chain, the government will promote contracts between hatcheries and parent stock farmers.

Provision of government subsidies: The government will provide funding for the establishment of one commercial
chicken parent stock farm.

1.4.2 Projected impacts for implementing interventions

Implementation of the outlined interventions will result in the following impacts:

• 315% increase in poultry production (from 1,228 metric tonnes to 5,096 metric tonnes) within the five years

• 25% increase in egg production from backyard indigenous chickens within the five years

• 208% increase in the contribution of the backyard indigenous chickens within the five years

• Total GDP contribution to increase from GMD 82.7 million to GMD 284.47 million within the five years.

1.4.3 Estimated investment cost for improving the chicken value chain
A total of USD 5,721,830 is budgeted for the interventions outlined to be implemented within the five years (2023–
2027) to achieve the impacts in the chicken value chain. Out of the total investment cost, 84% is expected to come
from the private sector and other sources, and the remaining 16% is from public funds. A summary of the estimated
budgetary allocation for interventions proposed to help improve the chicken value chain in the Gambia is shown in
Figure 3. The highest estimated budgetary allocation (54%) is planned for interventions geared at improving health
The Gambia livestock master plan xxi

conditions in the chicken value chain in the Gambia. Most of the privately sourced funds (62%) will be allocated to
animal health improvement interventions. This is followed by interventions aimed at genetic improvement (16%) and
interventions to improve the availability of chicken feed (13%).

Figure 3: Estimated budgetary allocation to improve the chicken value chain, 2023–2027.

Estimated budget for the improvement of small ruminant value chain

2023–2027

Proportion of estimated budgetary allocation for 5 years

2023–2027
xxii The Gambia livestock master plan

In sum, to increase the livestock sector GDP, household income and availability of livestock products, the
government will have to create an enabling environment that incentivizes private sector investment in specific
sectors. For the cattle value chain, private investment targeted at the feed industry, research and development
should be supported by the government. For the improvement of the small ruminant value chain, marketing
investments and investment in the animal feed industry by the private sector should be key. Finally, for improvement
in the chicken value chain, the government’s support should be tailored towards private investments that seek to
improve the health conditions in the chicken value chain in the Gambia.
2 Introduction

Agriculture is one of the vital sectors of the Gambian economy. It employs about 70% of the labour force
(Government of the Gambia 2019), with about 32% of the labour force in active primary agricultural production
which involves the production of raw produce (FAO et al. 2018). The agriculture sector’s contribution to GDP has
been declining since 2013, and it contributed about 21.7% to the country’s GDP in 2019 (The Gambia Bureau
of Statistics 2022). The performance of the agricultural sector has key implications for poverty reduction and
food security (FAO et al. 2018) because approximately 40% of the population lives in rural areas, where 73.9%
live below the poverty line (IFAD 2022). Despite the importance of agriculture to most of the population, the
sector has continued to underperform compared to the other sectors of the economy, particularly the services
sector. According to IFAD (2019), the underlying reasons for the low performance of the agricultural sector are,
among others, little diversification, the subsistence nature of agricultural production, the over-reliance on rainfed
production, low productivity due to the over-reliance on traditional systems of production, and the existence of
many small independent farming units. Most of these farmers also lack the requisite knowledge, skills and access to
productive resources such as credit, land ownership and support services to enhance their production (IFAD 2022).
The sector’s exposure to shocks has necessitated significant food imports with the scarce foreign exchange available
to meet rising food demand.

The livestock sector remains a predominant sector in the livelihood of the population of the Gambia, with cattle
and chicken as the most reared species in the country. The livestock population in 2020 was estimated at 285,000
cattle, 177,000 sheep, 378,000 goats and 982,000 chickens (The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2022). Official figures
indicate that the livestock sector alone contributed 13.8% to the agricultural GDP and 2.6% to the overall GDP of the
Gambia in 2019 (The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2022). The contribution of livestock has been declining annually
in absolute and relative terms, mainly due to the traditional production systems used and the fact that the sector’s
huge potential remains underexploited (The Gambia Bureau of Statistics 2022). The livestock sector is characterized
by low productivity per animal, the presence of disease vectors, and inadequate access to inputs such as feed and
veterinary and extension services, which have all contributed to the underperformance of the sector and the inability
to meet the growing demand for animal-sourced foods (Olaniyan 2017).

To boost the livestock sector, the Government of the Gambia, as a matter of policy, has prioritized livestock
production in its development agenda. The purpose is to facilitate the process of commercializing and
modernizing the livestock sector; strengthen selected institutions to deliver needed services; support the
livestock sector for increased production; and diversify the livestock production base (Touray 2016). The Small
Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP), for example, aims to improve the livelihoods of livestock-
producing households by improving the productivity of local breeds through better feeding and husbandry
practices, fostering greater access to veterinary services and production infrastructure, supporting production
and marketing management, enhancing innovations in product/processing techniques, and facilitating access to
Islamic finance through a revolving fund.

This livestock master plan (LMP) is an important component of the SRPEP and is meant to guide the ongoing project
and the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) to enhance the provision of additional public and private investments

1
2 The Gambia livestock master plan

in the livestock sector and improve livestock contributions to achieving the development goals stated in the National
Development Plan (NDP), such as transforming the sector to improve livelihoods, employment (particularly for youth)
and national income.

2.1 Livestock master plan (LMP) to support the

Gambian livestock sector
To increase the support for the livestock sector, the Government of the Gambia developed an LMP that includes a
thorough and systematic analysis of the Gambian livestock sector, a livestock sector strategy (LSS) and value chain-
specific investment roadmaps. The investment roadmaps constitute a detailed five-year livestock sector investment
plan meant to help increase and better target public and private investments. The purpose of producing an LMP
and investment roadmap is to attract more substantial and better-targeted livestock sector investments from finance
ministries, development partners and private sector investors. To help raise public and private investment and
allocate more budget to the livestock sector, the Government of the Gambia, through the Islamic Development
Bank, requested that the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) provide technical assistance in developing a
comprehensive LMP (Bahta et al. 2022).

The Gambia LMP was undertaken by a team of experts from Gambian government institutions (DLS, veterinary
college, district officers) along with ILRI livestock and planning experts.

A Technical Advisory Committee chaired by the SRPEP project manager reviewed and made recommendations
related to ensuring progress in achieving the outputs of the LMP project. Once completed, the commodity value
chain investment roadmaps of the LMP were also reviewed by eminent livestock scientists of ILRI and an external
reviewer and were found credible and defensible. The roadmaps presented here are a series of five-year investment
plans for the development of priority livestock value chains, chosen through sector analysis and based on their
potential for impacting the development objectives of the Government of the Gambia. Each roadmap includes a
specific vision and targets, challenges and opportunities, strategies, and recommended technology and policy
investment interventions, with expected outputs, impacts and outcomes for the Gambia’s development objectives.
The roadmaps include detailed budgets and sequenced activity plans (or Gantt charts). The findings of the livestock
sector analysis, profitability analysis of investing in halal slaughterhouses, and the Gambia LSS are presented in
separate publications.

This livestock master plan with investment roadmaps is organized into six sections. Section one was the executive
summary which presented key highlights, and section two is the introduction. Sections three to five present the
roadmaps for the three value chains (cattle, small ruminants and chickens) for 2023–2027. Each section begins with
the vision of the value chain and analysis of investment scenarios. The sections also critically analyse each value chain
in terms of production systems, opportunities that exist in the value chain, an analysis of interventions to improve
each value chain, and their implementation budgets. An analysis of the impact of the interventions, budgets, and
implementation timelines for each value chain (presented in the annexe tables) is also explained in these sections.
Finally, section six presents the contribution of the LMP in terms of its value to the livestock budget planning of the
Government of the Gambia.
3 Cattle value chain roadmap
(2023–2027)

3.1 A summary of results and conclusions from

the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS)
Cattle rearing is one of the most important activities in the livestock sector (Touray 2016). Cattle are reared in all
the administrative regions, but production is concentrated in the rural areas. The systems of cattle production
include (i) the extensive system, which is the most predominant and involves mixed crop–livestock farming, usage
of indigenous breeds of low productivity (N’Dama and Zebu/Gobra), and transhumance and internal migration in
search of pastures and water during the dry season; (ii) the semi-intensive system, where selected animals (including
draught animals) are given supplementary feeds using agro-industrial by-products and crop residues to increase
meat, milk, manure and draught power; and (iii) the intensive system, practised mainly in the urban and peri-urban
areas using pure-breds (mostly European breeds) and crosses of N’Dama and European breeds to increase the
productivity of both milk and meat.

Rearing of cattle in the Gambia faces numerous challenges and constraints, including poor feeding, low productivity
of the traditional breeds, limited processing infrastructure, livestock diseases, and a dysfunctional marketing system
(Touray 2016). The lack of access to feed is associated with both limited production and high costs of feed. Feed
production is limited due to severe rangeland degradation due to overgrazing, climate change, recurrent bushfires
and the absence of improvement strategies; seasonality – with dry periods being characterized by an acute scarcity
of feed and water; and dwindling rangeland resources due to demographic pressure and the lack of policy and legal
frameworks for the protection and sustainable management of grazing lands and cattle tracks. Concentrate feed
costs are high in the Western Region, where dairy production is more prevalent. Frequent occurrence of diseases
also leads to economic losses and is exacerbated by a critical shortage of veterinarians in the public sector and a
significant lack of favourable policy for the promotion and support of private veterinary services for the delivery of
animal health care services (Rich et al. 2020). The problem of a largely dysfunctional marketing system relates to
poor market infrastructure together with market imperfections and lack of a coordinated value chain and undermines
performance and growth.

To improve the cattle production system as well as the income of small and marginal farmers, the activities that need
to be implemented were identified in the LSS (see Bahta et al. 2023).

The set of interventions to address the challenge of lack of feed include:

• Complete the “comprehensive/systematic monitoring and inventory of the available range resources and carrying
capacity of the rangelands” conducted in 1986 by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID)-funded Mixed Farming and Resource Management Project for the Central River Region North, Central
River Region South and Upper River Region to include all production zones and feed and fodder resources.

3
4 The Gambia livestock master plan

• Facilitate the adoption of collection, storage and utilization of groundnut hay, maize, millet stover and rice straw
for livestock feeding during the latter part of the dry season.

• Promote the production of drought-resistant forages.

• Support the utilization of by-products such as groundnut cake, cotton seed cake, sesame cake and rice and millet
brans, especially in milk-producing areas.

• Continue the promotion of compost pens and other stabling techniques as a way of enhancing milk production.

For genetic improvement, the LSS recommended:

• Broaden, strengthen and sustain the 3-Tier National Breeding Program (nucleus, multiplier, village/farmer) being
implemented by the DLS and West Africa Livestock Innovation Centre (WALIC), and implement a long-term
planning and strategic breeding program.

• Promote sustainable use, development and conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources to reverse the
trend of erosion of cattle genetic resources.

• Conduct bio-morphometric and molecular characterization of the N’Dama breed as well as phenotypic
characterization.

• Initiate a national artificial insemination (AI) program both for indigenous breeds and pure-bred European breeds
being used in the dairy industry, particularly in the Western livestock production zone.

• Establish a cadre of well-trained geneticists and technicians.

• Provide refresher courses on AI for technicians and para-vets together with the provision of requisite equipment
and supplies to the trained AI technicians.

To address the challenge of diseases, it was recommended to:

• Seek technical assistance from Commonwealth member countries (as was the case in the past) to address the
current shortage of veterinarians, and explore the possibility of employing retired Gambian vets on contract while
prioritizing the training of vets in the long term.

• Enhance private participation in the delivery of veterinary healthcare.

• Establish and strengthen Regional Diagnostic Laboratories and the Central Veterinary Laboratory for effective
disease surveillance and the monitoring of vaccinations against contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and
other transboundary animal diseases.

• Enhance cold chain maintenance for proper storage of vaccines, reagents and laboratory samples collected for
confirmatory diagnosis.

To address the problems in marketing, the recommendations included:

• Develop improved market infrastructure and facilities for the collection, storage, processing and transportation of
milk in the Western Region.

• Construct a modern abattoir and meat processing plants in the Western Region.

• Support and engage with women involved in the informal marketing of milk and milk products in forming
cooperative societies and working closely with the mini dairies in the Central and Eastern regions.

• Initiate a program for the building of modern slaughterhouses and slabs in rural areas in the Central and Eastern
regions.
The Gambia livestock master plan 5

Results of the foresight analysis on the impact of the proposed additional investments – comparing a scenario with
additional investment (WI) versus business as usual (BAU) – indicated that:

• Quantities of beef and milk produced are projected to rise by only 3% and 5%, respectively, under BAU,
compared to an increase in the level of consumption of 38% and 78%, under WI. Under the BAU scenario,
much of the slaughter stock for the country will continue to be imported from neighbouring countries to satisfy
demands. With the investments, the projected beef production will surpass projected consumption between the
base year (2022/23) and 2037/38.

• The percentage share of domestic production to total consumption is projected to fall from 49% to 29% for milk
and 77% to 57% for beef under BAU.

• In the WI scenario, milk and beef production from the base year to 2037/38 is projected to increase by 336% and
105%, respectively.

• Milk production in the BAU scenario is projected to be significantly below the consumption level, and satisfy only
about 50% of the consumption requirement of the country by 2037/38. With the WI scenario, milk production is
projected to increase by 76% from the base year to 2037/38 and close the milk deficit by 2034.

3.2 Five-year vision for the cattle value chain

The vision is to increase income from cattle for farmers adopting cattle improvement interventions and raise the
country’s beef and cow milk production from the current 4,100 tonnes and 20.2 million litres to about 5,700 tonnes
and 43.7 million litres, respectively, by 2027. The contribution of beef and cow milk to the Gambia’s GDP will
increase from 689 and 545 million Gambian Dalasi (GMD) by 2022 to GMD 723 and 1,288 million by 2026/27,
respectively.

3.3 Description of cattle production systems

The cattle value chain comprises mainly indigenous N’Dama cattle but also includes crossbreds with Zebu cattle
(known as Gobras), crossbreds with European cattle and pure-bred European cattle. The overwhelming majority
of all cattle (98%) in the Gambia (286,220 head) are N’Dama breeds. The remaining 2% comprise Zebus, Gobras
and crossbreds of N’Dama with Jersey, Holstein-Friesian and other European breeds (National Livestock Census
2016).2

N’Dama cattle are dual-purpose animals producing both milk and meat. The average milk yield is between 1.5 and
3.5 litres depending on the season (about 3.5 during the rainy season and 1.5 during the dry season). The average
milk yield for crossbred cows is about 10 litres per day and for European breeds about 20 litres per day depending
on management practices. The average herd size for N’Dama cattle is 56 while for crossbreeds and European cattle,
is 20.

Across all the production zones (Western, Central and Eastern) the predominant production system for N’Dama
cattle is the extensive system that is characterized by free-range grazing and minimal supplementation. However, in
the Western production zone, European breeds and their crosses in the smallholder commercial dairy production
system are found in peri-urban areas under semi-intensive to intensive management. In these dairy systems, various
forms of housing, zero grazing, grazing with supplementation, and inputs for disease control are provided. Individual
animals are tagged, and some production records are maintained. Milk produced is also sold either raw or as fresh
pasteurized milk or yoghurt.

2. As the most recent census, the 2016 census was used to derive the base year parameters and validated by the National Technical Committee.
6 The Gambia livestock master plan

3.4 Opportunities, challenges and strategies

The cattle subsector constitutes a valuable resource, the potential of which is however underutilized, and remains
an important complementary attribute of the farming and livelihood support system of most rural and peri-urban
households in the country.

In this regard, cattle production forms an integral component of the agro-pastoral mixed farming system, providing
manure, milk, meat and a source of income for satisfying sociocultural and other obligations.

The subsector is faced with several challenges including feed shortages, disease outbreaks, lack of improved
germplasm, and market constraints. These constraints are compounded by shrinking rangelands (due to
demographic pressures resulting in the cultivation of marginal lands that were hitherto reserved as pastures) and
inadequate access to credit and veterinary infrastructure.

However, intensification of the cattle management and production systems will provide opportunities for the
enhancement of the development of the beef and peri-urban dairy industry to boost domestic milk production to
meet the growing demand for dairy products in the expanding tourism sector and urban and growth centres.

As mentioned earlier, opportunities exist for the expansion of the commercial dairy industry in the Western
production zone given that the agroecological conditions favour the utilization of crossbreeds and European breeds
of cattle. In addition, there is considerable access to feed and water and high demand for livestock and livestock
products due to the high densities of a predominantly urbanized population in the area.

3.5 Investment scenarios analysed in the five-

year investment plan
The cattle improvement investments for the first investment period (five-year investment roadmap) are analysed
for the BAU and WI scenarios. The BAU scenario represents the base case or existing scenario with the analysis
showing the impacts of continuing the current type and level of investment and recurrent spending on meat
and milk production, income per animal and contribution to GDP throughout the LMP analysis period of five
years. The WI scenario represents an increase in the investments in N’Dama and Zebu/Gobra cattle to improve
meat and milk production, income per animal and contribution to GDP through increasing productivity and the
population of crossbreed cattle. This scenario ultimately aims to meet the country’s milk and meat consumption
requirements.

3.6 Overall livestock master plan targets under

the intervention scenario
3.6.1 Overall targets at the production zone and country level
The population of cattle under an investment scenario of implementing the improvement interventions under
cattle is projected to increase by 11.3%, from 296,889 in the base year to 330,390 in 2027 (Table 1). N’Dama
cattle are projected to make up about 97% of the entire cattle population in the Gambia compared to 0.9% from
the commercial dairy system and 2.2% from Zebu/Gobra crossbreds. The commercial dairy cattle population is
projected to increase by 794.7%, from 332 in 2022 to 2,966 in 2027. The Eastern production zone is projected
to produce the most cattle, comprising 55.6% of the population in 2027, whereas the Western zone will comprise
12.7% of the population by 2027.
The Gambia livestock master plan 7

Table 1: Cattle population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)
Livestock population WI scenario
Production zone Sub-system Base year
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % Change
2022
N’Dama 37,363 38,110 38,872 39,650 40,443 41,252 10.4%
Western Zebu/Gobra 764 779 794 810 827 843 10.4%
Total 38,126 38,889 39,667 40,460 41,269 42,095 10.4%
N’Dama 89,366 91,154 92,977 94,836 96,733 98,668 10.4%
Central Zebu/Gobra 2,642 2,695 2,749 2,804 2,860 2,917 10.4%
Total 92,009 93,849 95,726 97,640 99,593 101,585 10.4%
N’Dama 163,128 166,390 169,718 173,112 176,575 180,106 10.4%
Eastern Zebu/Gobra 3,295 3,361 3,428 3,497 3,567 3,638 10.4%
Total 166,423 169,751 173,146 176,609 180,142 183,744 10.4%
Commercial dairy Small 332 514 796 1,234 1,913 2,966 794.7%
N’Dama 289,857 295,654 301,567 307,598 313,750 320,025 10.4%
Total population
Zebu/Gobra 6,701 6,835 6,972 7,111 7,253 7,399 10.4%
Grand total population 296,889 303,306 309,861 316,558 323,400 330,390 11.3%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

3.7 Cattle improvement interventions

3.7.1 WI scenario – dairy improvement targets and interventions3
3.7.1.1 Feed interventions
According to DLS and FAO (2022), in the Gambia, there is surplus feed production in terms of dry matter in the rainy
and cold dry seasons. However, the amount of feed produced in the hot dry season decreases substantially. In the
dry season, the amount of feed produced in the country is not enough to satisfy the needs of livestock. The energy
balance (available vs. need) also follows a similar trend (Bahta et al. 2022). The following proposed interventions can
improve the feed production and need balance in the country:

• The DLS with the Department of Forestry should produce a detailed implementation plan to ensure sustainable
exploitation of range resources within the designated areas. This is necessary even though the Forest Act 1998 (in
accordance with Section 68 of this Law) allows for forest grazing in designated community forests.

• The Ministry of Agriculture should engage other relevant stakeholders (such as the Ministries of Local Government
and Lands, Justice, Forestry and the Environment and Parks and Wildlife, Civil Society and Community Leaders) to
update the Land Use Plan taking into consideration the urgent needs of the agriculture and livestock sectors in the
country. The last comprehensive Land Use Plan for the Gambia was developed in 1985, and it was followed by
the preparation of the Physical Development Plan for the Greater Banjul Area in 2000.

• Demarcate, map and gazette grazing areas and stock routes within the first four years of the LMP period to
decrease conflicts between farmers and livestock herders.

• Sensitize and train farmers on the prevention and control of bushfires.

• Regenerate degraded grazing areas and rangelands using community-based grazing area and rangeland
management systems, including:

• Over-sowing of palatable feed species, including Adropogon gayanus and Panicum and Brachiaria species

3. For more details on recommended interventions for each value chain, refer to Bahta et al. (2022) and Bahta et al. (2023).
8 The Gambia livestock master plan

• Construction of access and slipways to rivers in 20 areas that currently have low access for animals
• Construction of 70 boreholes with the contribution of herd owners
• Development of 40 low-lying areas (manmade and natural depressions) and improvement of water
harvesting
• Planting of fodder tree species such as Pterocarpus erinaceus, Leucocefala, Acacia albida and Leucaena in
community forest parks and rangelands and around boreholes and slipways.
• Sensitize and provide incentives for farmers to grow fodder and fodder trees as fences and hedges in
backyards and other areas to supplement cattle and enhance feed availability during the dry season.

• Sensitize farmers to supplement lactating cows with concentrate feeds, salt and mineral licks, to increase the
proportion of cattle farmers that supplement their lactating cows with some form of concentrate feed to 50% by
the end of the five years of the LMP period (2027).

• Increase the use of leguminous plants, e.g. Pterocarpus erinaceous, Acacia albida (Faidherbia albida) and
Cajanus cajan.

• Liaise with the National Seed Secretariat to have a strong fodder seed quality regulatory department within the
Secretariat.

• Sensitize and provide incentives for farmers to harvest green feeds during the wet season and conserve them for
use in the dry season.

• Train farmers in collecting, preserving and utilizing crop residues. Currently, crop residue utilization in the Gambia
is very low for many crops except for groundnut and cowpea which have a very high crop residue utilization.

• Improve the availability of government and private sector professionals supporting dairy farming and milk
processing by increasing the accessibility of long-term training on dairying and milk processing.

• Limit the export of processed feed ingredients and have a concessional supply for local livestock producers.

• Facilitate financial provision and long-term loan repayment schemes to commercial dairy farms that want to
establish and operate dairy farms.

• Encourage the establishment of a fodder and fodder seed producers’ association within three years.

• Improve the linkages with feed and fodder associations in other countries like Mali and Senegal.

3.7.7.2 Health improvement interventions:

• Vaccinate cattle for priority diseases like CBPP, haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS), black quarter (BQ) and lumpy
skin disease (LSD). The vaccine coverage of CBPP is targeted to increase from the current coverage of about
75% (DLS 2020) to about 80% in the coming five years. The percentage of cattle vaccinated against HS, BQ and
LSD is targeted to increase from the current coverage of very low (DLS 2020) to 30% by the end of the five years
(2023–2027).

• Vaccinate dairy cattle against CBPP, HS, BQ and LSD on commercial farms, and continue anthrax vaccination and
chemoprophylaxis against tick-borne and blood-parasitic infectious diseases.

• Increase the rate of anti-parasite treatment to 30% and anthelmintic use to 40% by the end of the five years
(2023–2027). The current level of external and internal parasite treatment practices among N’Dama cattle owners
is about 15% and 25%, respectively, using anti-parasite chemicals and anthelmintic (DLS 2020).

• Strengthen the Veterinary Council within four years to make it able to effectively monitor and regulate the
importation, distribution and use of veterinary drugs.
The Gambia livestock master plan 9

• Ensure the availability of sufficient vaccines and medicines in the country.

• Strengthen the Livestock Training School of the Gambia College of Agriculture through capacity building
of trainers and provision of teaching materials, equipment and protective clothing for trainees, and provide
laboratories and practical facilities and equipment throughout the LMP duration.

• Revise the current curriculum used to train livestock technicians, within two years.

• Train veterinarians and livestock technicians to scale up their capacity and increase their contribution to the
improvement of extension and veterinary service delivery.

• Establish five additional veterinary pharmacies and drug outlets in the regions in the five years (2023–2027) of the
LMP duration.

• Strengthen the existing six regional veterinary stations by improving infrastructure and providing equipment
within the five-year LMP.

• Improve infrastructure, provide equipment and hire experts to open positions for the existing 53 veterinary sub-
stations.

• Establish 53 new veterinary sub-stations (one more for every district) within the five-year duration of the LMP
(2023–2027).

• Strengthen the disease surveillance system by improving staff capacity with training and the monitoring system.

• There are currently 82 farmers’ sanitary defence committees. It is recommended to build the capacity of existing
sanitary defence committees and raise their number to 120 by the end of the LMP period (2027).

• Improve the capacity of the existing six Regional Veterinary Laboratories in the coming five years by improving
infrastructure, equipment, staffing and staff capacity.

• Improve the facilities and train laboratory technologists and technicians of the Central Veterinary Laboratory at Abuko.

3.7.7.3 Genetic improvement interventions:

• Produce a cattle breeding policy within two years

• Sensitize herd owners on the selection and retention of good breeding bulls and heifers in the local herd. It is
targeted to sensitize 60% of livestock farmers by the end of five years (2023-2027).

• Expand the N’Dama breeding program being conducted by WALIC and produce and distribute elite breeding
bulls to farmers through the Gambia Indigenous Livestock Multipliers Association (GILMA). It is targeted that 5%
of cattle farmers in the country will have access to elite N’Dama breeding bulls/semen by the end of five years
(2023-2027).

• Strengthen the capacity of WALIC by coordinating and facilitating funds for the construction of more barns, the
purchase of more animals, and improved research and training facilities. Also, it is equally essential to provide
enhanced laboratory and storage facilities and equipment to expand the laboratories’ capacity to include
handling breeding materials and activities.

• Construct one AI centre within the first five years of the LMP period. The AI centres will produce semen straws
from elite N’Dama bulls and exotic/exotic-cross breed bulls.

• Construct one liquid nitrogen storage facility within five years.

• Train 100 additional AI technicians within five years (2023-2027).

• Subsidize private AI service providers to help them expand their AI service to more livestock producers.
10 The Gambia livestock master plan

3.7.7.4 Extension and research improvement interventions:

• Develop livestock extension policy, guidelines and legal framework for extension services within three years.

• Strengthen the capacities of the livestock research section of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) by
improving the research facilities and staffing with livestock researchers and scientists to make it able to conduct
livestock research. The research institute must also collaborate with other research institutions like WALIC and
others in the subregion.

• Coordinate and facilitate the provision of financial support, the necessary equipment, and training opportunities
to the staff of WALIC to expand its local cattle improvement program and other research.

• Enhance the mobility of the public extension service providers to allow them to interact more effectively with
farmers.

• Strengthen DLS and other stakeholders’ livestock data collection tasks by providing appropriate equipment, in
addition to capacity building and training on data collection (methods and tools) and analysis.

• Improve staff retention at NARI, WALIC and DLS through incentives, career progression opportunities and
scholarships.

• Upgrade the existing training centres and demonstration units and utilize them to full capacity. The existing four
training centres and four demonstration units cater to all species in the country.

• Improve infrastructure, equipment, and staffing at 53 veterinary sub-stations and construct an additional 53 new
veterinary sub-stations (one for every district) within the LMP period.

• Promote private veterinary and extension service providers by subsidizing veterinary and livestock experts to
establish veterinary pharmacies and input shops that can provide farmers with veterinary and extension services.

• Support private extension service provider startups through appropriate subsidies.

• Regulate private veterinarians and extension service providers and continue researching and providing public
veterinary and extension services.

• Facilitate collaboration between NARI and the University of the Gambia and other stakeholders in the livestock
sector to ensure that training at the faculty of science produces graduates with needed skills.

• Promote adaptive research on exotic breeds and milk improvement along the value chain.

• Increase the number of farmers that receive intensive and continuous cattle improvement training (training,
exchange visits, farmer advisory services and practical demonstrations) to 50% by the end of the LMP. Currently,
very few farmers get intensive and continuous cattle improvement training.

3.7.7.5 Marketing and processing improvement interventions:

• Improve the meat marketing infrastructure in 10 primary markets (Sare Ngai, Sare Bojo, Brikamaba, Wasu, Jareng,
Samitenda, Farafeni, Bureng, Kerr Pateh, Ndugukebbeh, Fass Njaga Choi and Panchang) and two terminal
markets (Abuko and Brikama) by 2027. This improvement includes fencing of holding grounds and provision of
watering facilitates, sheds, offices, toilets, loading ramps, slaughter slabs, meat stalls, cold storage facilities and
weighing scales.

• Strengthen the newly established livestock market information system and sensitize users about it.

• Subsidize milk and meat producer cooperatives to introduce specialized vehicles for transporting live animals and
animal products.

• Provide capacity-building training for market management committees.

The Gambia livestock master plan 11

• Support the establishment of marketing cooperatives within five years4.

• Support cooperatives to improve the collection, transportation and processing of livestock products.

• Encourage and subsidize private actors to enable them to establish small-scale milk processing plants. It is
targeted that five small-scale milk processing plants will be established by 2027.

• Encourage private sector investors to establish two modern abattoirs within five years.

• Support commercial dairy farms to increase the number of commercial dairy farms in the Gambia. It is targeted
that an additional about 40 commercial dairy farms (with a current farm size of about 65 animals) will be
established by 2027.

• Modernize the 10 existing slaughterhouses by 2027.

• Establish a tannery by 2027.

• Encourage online marketing to facilitate the marketing of livestock inputs, services and products. Online
marketing will require improved internet networking, faster internet and reduced cost of data bundles.

3.8 Investment budget

The budget for the planned interventions in the cattle (beef and dairy) sector during the first five years of the LMP
is USD 36.97 million (Table 2)5. Overall, investments in “Education, Research and Extension services” together
with “animal health” account for the highest share of the total budget (39% and 33%, respectively) (Table 2). The
estimated investment cost coming from public funds amounts to USD 31.4 million (about 85% of the total budget).
The corresponding amount from the private sector is USD 5.5 million (about 15% of the total budget). For feed
interventions, the private sector will shoulder 55% of the investment cost, whereas, for genetic improvement and
marketing investments, 89% to 96% will be borne by the public sector, respectively (Figure 4).

Table 2: Dairy and beef roadmap investment cost by intervention areas

Total Private Public Share of investments
(USD) (USD) (USD) by category
Feed and feeding 4,371,880 2,394,690 1,977,190 12%
Animal Health 12,366,819 536,819 11,830,000 33%
Genetic improvement 3,279,971 356,486 2,923,486 9%
Education, research and extension services 14,509,051 2,000,000 12,509,051 39%
Marketing investments 2,443,088 250,000 2,193,088 7%
Total 36,970,809 5,537,994 31,432,815 100%

As shown in Annex Table 3, the level of projected investments in the first year accounts for the largest share (37%) of
the total five-year costs.

Interventions accounting for the highest level of investments include:

• Feeds and feeding

• Developing low-lying areas (manmade and natural depressions) for water harvesting (USD 1,600,000).
• Provision of guarantee funds to banks who offer loans for the establishment and running of commercial
dairy farms (USD 1,050,000).

4. The establishment of marketing cooperatives within five years also applies for each of the different commodities (small ruminants, layers, broilers and
free-range chickens). However, budgetary allocation is captured in the cattle roadmap budget.
5. Detailed budget for the cattle roadmap is in Annexe Table 3.
12 The Gambia livestock master plan

• Animal Health

• Strengthening of the existing six regional veterinary stations through infrastructure improvement and
provision of equipment (USD 3,840,000).
• Infrastructure improvement, provision of equipment and hiring of personnel for the open positions in the
existing 53 veterinary sub-stations (USD 2,650,000).
• Establishing 10 new veterinary sub-stations (USD 1,000,000).
• Capacity improvement of the existing six Regional Veterinary Laboratories through infrastructure
improvement, provision of equipment, staffing and staff capacity development (USD 3,840,000).

• Education, research and extension services

• Provision of financial support, necessary equipment and training opportunities to the staff of WALIC to
expand its local cattle improvement program and other research (USD 2,921,751).
• Strengthening of public livestock extension service delivery in terms of mobility (USD 1,910,000).
• Provision of incentives, career progression opportunities and scholarships to the staff at NARI, WALIC and
DLS to improve their retention (USD 2,500,000).
• Upgrading of the four training centres and four demonstration units for full capacity utilization
(USD 2,012,300).
• Promoting private veterinary and extension service providers by subsidizing veterinary and livestock
experts to establish veterinary pharmacies and input shops that can provide farmers with veterinary and
extension services (USD 2,200,000).
• Supporting the emergence of private livestock extension service providers by subsidizing the private
extension service providers (USD 1,800,000).

Figure 4: Dairy and beef investments by intervention areas and source of funding.

100%

90%

80%
45%
70%

60%
89% 86% 85%
90%
50% 96%

40%

30%
55%
20%

10% 4%
11% 14% 10% 15%
0%
Feed and feeding Animal Health Genetic Education, Marketing total
improvement Research and Investments
Extension services

Private Public
The Gambia livestock master plan 13

3.9 Impacts of interventions

3.9.1 Return on investment (ROI) over 20 years
To evaluate how well an investment will perform compared to a no-investment scenario, an ROI was performed,
which is calculated by dividing the net income from the investment by the total cost of the investment, without
considering other effects like GDP, among others. The ROI was calculated using the internal rate of return (IRR), which
considers the time value of money. The IRR identifies the rate of discount, which makes the present value of the sum
of annual nominal cash inflows equal to the initial net cash outlay for the investment. The ROI analysis conducted over
20 years6 under the WI scenario for the dairy sector indicates a higher IRR observed in the Western production zone
for both N’Dama (42%) and Zebu/Gobra (31%) when milk prices are GMD 60 for the Western compared to the other
zones (Figure 5). On the other hand, the IRR observed for GMD 30 milk prices for N’Dama and Zebu/Gobra are 20%
and 18%, respectively. The N’Dama breed is projected to have a higher IRR across all production zones than the
Zebu/Gobra breed. The Central zone is projected to record the least IRR of 18% and 16% for the N’Dama and Zebu/
Gobra cattle farm systems, respectively, compared to 19% and 18% for Eastern for the two breeds, respectively.
This illustrates a much more financially viable investment in dairy improvement interventions in the N’Dama breeds
compared to the Zebu/Gobra breeds across all production zones. This result is also corroborated by the positive net
present value recorded for all the production zones and species but higher for N’Dama breeds than Zebu/Gobra
breeds, indicating that the projected earnings generated by investment in dairy improvement programs discounted
for their present value will exceed the anticipated costs of the investments; hence, it is more financially viable to
invest in such interventions for N’Dama breeds than Zebu/Gobra breeds.

Figure 5: Internal rate of return (IRR) for cattle under a 20-year investment plan.

3.9.2 Projected income increases per animal in 15 years

The income per animal for both N’Dama and Zebu/Gobra breeds of cattle in the Western production zone
is projected to be twice that of the Central and Eastern production zones. In the Western production zone,
income for Zebu/Gobra cattle owners is projected to increase to GMD 13,179 under the WI scenario compared
to GMD 11,787 under the BAU scenario during 15 years (Figure 6). The income per animal will be slightly lower

6. IRR analysis was conducted for a 20-year period under the WI scenario because of the long time it takes for most livestock improvement investments
to generate full benefits due to the slow adoption rate.
14 The Gambia livestock master plan

for N’Dama cattle under the WI scenario (GMD 12,497) compared to the BAU scenario (GMD 7,574) under the
same 15-year scenario. The reason for the high income per animal in the Western zone is due to the production
system practised where animals, particularly the Zebu/Gobra breeds, are placed under semi-intensive and
intensive farm systems and supplemented with feed and high disease control given more priority compared to
the other production zones where the extensive system is highly practised with fewer animal supplements and
attention on the animals.

Figure 6: Cattle income per animal under business as usual (BAU) and with investment (WI) scenarios in 15 years
(2023–2037).

Source: LSIPT7 results

3.9.3 Meat and milk production

3.9.3.1 Meat production
Total beef production under an investment scenario where cattle improvement interventions are implemented
is projected to increase by 38.8%, from 4,073 tonnes in the base year to 5,655 tonnes in 2027 (Table 3). Most
production is projected to come from the N’Dama breed, which would contribute 97% of the total beef produced in
2027. On the other hand, beef from commercial dairy, which is very small, is projected to increase from 10 tonnes in
2022 to 94 tonnes in 2027, an 854% increase over the five years (Table 3).

The Eastern production zone is projected to contribute the most beef, increasing from 2,275 tonnes to 3,094
tonnes, representing 36% over the five years. Beef production in the Eastern zone is more than the combined
production from the Western and Central zones. On the other hand, the projections show that the Western
production zone will contribute the least beef, though it will have a larger percentage increase of 44%, increasing
from 528 to 760 tonnes over the five years under the WI scenario.

7. LSIPT – Livestock Sector Investment and Policy Toolkit results for The Gambia
The Gambia livestock master plan 15

Table 3: Cattle meat production projected for five years under the investment scenario
Beef production (tonnes)
Production zone Sub-system Base year % Change
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
2022
N’Dama 516 556 598 644 694 747 44.8%
Western Zebu/Gobra 12 12 12 13 13 13 10.7%
Total 528 568 611 657 707 760 44.0%
N’Dama 1,235 1,313 1,396 1,485 1,579 1,679 35.9%
Central Zebu/Gobra 25 26 27 27 28 28 11.8%
Total 1,260 1,339 1,423 1,512 1,607 1,707 35.4%
N’Dama 2,243 2,386 2,539 2,701 2,874 3,058 36.4%
Eastern Zebu/Gobra 33 33 34 35 35 36 11.1%
Total 2,275 2,420 2,573 2,736 2,910 3,094 36.0%
Commercial dairy Small 10 15 24 38 60 94 854.6%
N’Dama 3,993 4,255 4,533 4,830 5,147 5,484 37.3%
Total production
Zebu/Gobra 70 72 73 75 76 78 11.3%
Grand total production 4,073 4,350 4,645 4,960 5,296 5,655 38.8%

3.9.3.2 Milk production

Like beef, milk production in the Gambia is projected to increase markedly by 2027, rising 116.7% from a projected
20.2 million litres in 2022 to 43.7 million litres in 2027 (Table 4). Most of the milk production in 2027 is projected
to come from N’Dama breeds, with an estimated 36.6 million litres, representing 83.6% of the total milk production
in the Gambia. Across all three production zones, milk production from the N’Dama breed is projected to have the
largest percentage increase from 2022 to 2027 compared to the Zebu/Gobra breed. Commercial dairy farms are
projected to produce only 6.3 million litres, which is 14% of the total milk production in the Gambia, though it is
projected to increase by 2,469.9% over the period. The Eastern production zone is projected to produce most of the
milk in the Gambia, with an estimated 47% of the total milk production in 2027 compared to 27% from the Central
and 11% from the Western zones.

Table 4: Cattle milk production projected for five years under the investment scenario

Milk production (thousand litres)

Production zone Sub-system Base year % Change
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
2022
N’Dama 2,472 2,812 3,199 3,639 4,139 4,708 90.4%
Western Zebu/Gobra 95 99 102 106 110 114 20.2%
Total 2,567 2,912 3,304 3,748 4,251 4,822 87.8%
N’Dama 6,112 6,951 7,906 8,991 10,226 11,631 90.3%
Central Zebu/Gobra 255 265 275 285 296 308 20.7%
Total 6,366 7,219 8,187 9,284 10,528 11,939 87.5%
N’Dama 10,648 12,105 13,762 15,646 17,788 20,222 89.9%
Eastern Zebu/Gobra 345 358 371 385 400 414 20.1%
Total 10,993 12,468 14,142 16,041 18,194 20,637 87.7%
Commercial dairy Small 246 471 902 1,727 3,305 6,326 2,469.9%
N’Dama 19,232 21,868 24,867 28,276 32,153 36,561 90.1%
Total production
Zebu/Gobra 695 721 748 777 806 836 20.4%
Grand total production 20,173 23,548 27,488 32,088 37,456 43,724 116.7%
Source: Odisha LMP analysis
16 The Gambia livestock master plan

3.9.3.4 Manure and draught power

Increases in manure and draught power from cattle are projected by 2027. Manure production is projected to
increase from 160,106 tonnes in 2022 to 174,050 tonnes in 2027, an 11% increase (Table 5). On the other hand,
the projected increase in draught power over the five years is 12.2%, from a base year total of 5.6 million days to 6.1
million days in 2027.

Table 5: Cattle meat, milk, manure and draught power production projected for five years under the investment
scenario

Products Sub-system Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % Change

N’Dama 3,993 4,255 4,533 4,830 5,147 5,484 37.3%

Zebu/Gobra 70 72 73 75 76 78 11.3%
Beef (tonnes)
Commercial 10 15 24 38 60 94 854.6%
Total 4,073 4,350 4,645 4,960 5,296 5,655 38.8%
N’Dama 19,232 21,868 24,867 28,276 32,153 36,561 90.1%
Zebu/Gobra 695 721 748 777 806 836 20.4%
Milk (thousand litres)
Commercial 246 471 902 1,727 3,305 6,326 2,469.9%
Total 20,173 23,548 27,488 32,088 37,456 43,724 116.7%
Manure (tonnes) 160,106 160,106 163,484 166,933 170,454 174,050 11.0%
Draught power (thousand days) 5,603 5,603 5,733 5,866 6,002 6,141 12.2%

3.9.3.5 Gross domestic product (GDP) contribution

The contribution of cattle products (beef, milk, manure and draught power) to GDP in the Gambia is projected
to increase by 4%, from GMD 4.2 billion in 2022 to GMD 4.3 billion in 2027 (Table 6). While there is a projected
increase in beef, milk and manure contribution between 2022 and 2027, the value of draught power is projected
to witness a decline of 21% within the same period. The value of beef is projected to increase from GMD 689 million
to GMD 723 million, a 5% increase compared to the GMD 379 million increase in the value of milk from commercial
production systems. The value of draught power is projected to be 53% of cattle’s overall contribution to GDP,
although it will decrease from GMD 2.9 billion to GMD 2.3 billion by 2027.

Table 6: Total cattle GDP contribution projected for five years under the investment scenario (in million GMD)

Products Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % Change

N’Dama 677 678 680 682 684 686 1.4%

Zebu/Gobra 12 12 12 12 13 13 5.1%
Beef
Commercial 0 0 1 3 9 25 13,707.5%
Total 689 696 702 709 716 723 5.0%
N’Dama 527 585 650 721 800 889 68.6%
Zebu/Gobra 17 17 18 18 19 19 14.3%
Milk
Commercial 1 3 11 35 115 380 38,902.9%
Total 545 647 769 913 1,084 1,288 136.3%
Manure 31 32 32 33 34 35 13.1%
Draught power 2,917 2,782 2,653 2,530 2,413 2,301 -21.1%
Overall total 4,182 4,214 4,247 4,280 4,314 4,347 4.0%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis
The Gambia livestock master plan 17

3.10 Complementary conditions required for the

success of investments
• The extension system needs to advance toward providing consistent and intensive extension services to farmers.

• Conducive policies, regulations and incentive regimes for private investment in extension, feed, breeding, animal
health services, commercial dairy and beef and milk processing and marketing.

• Favourable weather conditions.

• Donors and development partners to follow through on their commitment.

• Collection and processing of milk in the country are improved.

• Good governance and monitoring and evaluation framework for the impact of interventions.

3.11 Gender and social inclusion implications for

cattle value chain development
Most cattle in the Gambia are owned by men (84.6%). However, there are marked differences in ownership patterns
at the regional level, with women owning about 25% of all cattle in the Lower River Region (National Livestock
Census 2016). Women own cows, received as dowry, and these cows are kept and managed throughout by male
herders. Herders use milk produced by those cows as payment for herding wages. Despite the ownership of cattle
being dominated by men, generally, milk (and milk products) produced in the traditional extensive system is mostly
managed by women who are responsible for its collection, storage, processing and utilization at the household level
(for domestic consumption) and sale in the open market.

When intervention measures are implemented, there will be increases in cattle population and meat and milk production.
The involvement of women farmers in milk production, both commercially and at smallholder levels, will increase for
N’Dama and Zebu/Gobra. The availability of affordable meat will greatly benefit women and households in improving
maternal and childhood nutrition. With the increased access to animal-source foods (more meat and protein and other
nutrients and micro-nutrients), more women’s, children’s and other vulnerable groups’ nutritional, economic and
social status are expected to be improved. Moreover, an increased number of commercial dairy animals translates to
increased availability of milk. Driven by the normative ideas of masculinity and femininity associated with the interactions
with cattle in the Gambia, men are normally responsible for milking cattle. At the same time, women are responsible for
selling milk and milk products from the farm gate to the consumers. Manure is another economically viable product
to explore. Anecdotal evidence from farmers (informants from discussions amongst workshop participants) points
to the likelihood of sales from manure being more profitable than sales of livestock. Moreover, farmers are already
cognizant of the value of using manure in their vegetable gardens and the profits from its sales.

3.12 Conclusions
The cattle sector, comprising both meat and dairy, plays a significant role in the livelihood of producers in the
Gambia as well as in the economic development of the country. The sector, which employs a significant number
of people, is a vital source of GDP, income and food for many individuals and households, probably contributing
significantly to poverty reduction and nutrition security in the country. With growing urbanization and an increase
in population and income, it is projected that the demand for meat and dairy products will increase. Therefore,
producers in the cattle value chain can take advantage of this growing demand to increase their incomes and well-
being. It also presents several opportunities for marginalized people in the value chain, particularly women, to
increase their participation in the value chain through engaging in more productive and income-generating activities
18 The Gambia livestock master plan

instead of being confined to the lower-income-generating roles they currently play in most livestock value chains,
including cattle. The government has intervened in various ways through many projects and programs, all targeted
at helping farmers take advantage of the many opportunities the sector brings. However, this has been inadequate
over the years. Challenges such as disease outbreaks, shortage of feed and fodder, fewer marketing opportunities
and low penetration rate, among others, still limit the growth of the cattle value chain in the Gambia. These, coupled
with other socioeconomic challenges, still make it difficult for the sector to see the needed boost to meet the rising
demand for meat and milk from cattle.

To improve the cattle value chain to provide the needed economic development to farmers and the economy,
there is a need to focus on addressing the challenges affecting the value chain in the areas of feed, animal health,
marketing and research, among others, in all production zones and across all breeds, indigenous and crossbred.
Notably, the proposed interventions in feed improvement and animal health need to be specific to each production
zone to benefit all value chain actors. Focusing on genetic improvement and promoting animal breeding activities,
investing in research and extension, delivering animal health services, and processing and marketing are essential in
bringing the needed benefits.

The Gambia’s economy will see much-needed growth when additional investments are made in addressing
the challenges identified above in the cattle value chain. These will increase the population of both crossbred
and indigenous cattle by 11% between 2022 and 2027, positively impacting both meat and milk production by
38.8% and 116.7%, respectively. Not only will this help reduce the difference between domestic meat and milk
consumption and production, but it will also increase livestock GDP by 4% and improve farmers’ incomes.
4 Small ruminant value chain
roadmap (2023–2027)

4.1 A summary of results and conclusions from

the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS)
Rearing of small ruminants is widespread in all regions under extensive and subsistence-oriented production
systems. Intensive small ruminant and poultry production systems have recently evolved and are proliferating in the
peri-urban areas and around the growth centres. The challenges facing small ruminant production in the Gambia are
similar to the challenges in cattle production: poor feeding, low productivity for local breeds of goats, diseases and
marketing challenges. Thus, recommendations similar to those for cattle address the challenges of poor feeding in
small ruminants. Likewise, for animal genetics, recommendations include efforts to reverse the erosion of indigenous
goat genetic resources together with conservation, utilization and development of West African Dwarf goats and
Djallonke sheep (the indigenous breed) through broadening, strengthening and sustaining the breeding program
being implemented by DLS and WALIC; bio-morphometric and molecular characterization of the West African
Dwarf goats and Djallonke sheep; as well as their phenotypic characterization. In animal health, implementation
of the National Strategy for the Control and Eradication of PPR in the Gambia was recommended in addition to the
improvements in the delivery of general animal health services, as noted above for cattle. To address the challenges
in marketing, the development of improved market infrastructure for small ruminants, together with the construction
of a modern abattoir and meat processing plants in the Western Region, was recommended. In the Central and
Eastern regions, it was recommended that women engaged in small ruminant production should be supported and
encouraged to form producer associations or marketing cooperative societies and to work closely with the National
Livestock Owners Association. In addition, a program for building modern slaughterhouses and slabs in rural areas
should be initiated.

The foresight analysis indicated that:

• The production of goat meat is projected to increase from 1,125 tonnes to 1,483 and 3,581 tonnes under BAU
and WI scenarios, respectively, representing growth of 31.8% and 218.3% by 2027. Likewise, sheep meat
production is projected to increase from 504 tonnes to 640 and 1,748 tonnes under BAU and WI scenarios,
respectively, representing 26.9% and 246.7% growth by 2027.

• Without any intervention (BAU scenario), the Gambia may not be able to meet the future domestic demand for
meat from sheep and goats from domestic production. Production in 2037/38 under the BAU scenario is only
projected to be 2,150 tonnes, far below the projected demand of 4,683 tonnes.

• With interventions, the Gambia may meet and exceed the projected domestic demand for sheep and goat meat
in 2037/38, with a projected production of 5,329 tonnes.

19
20 The Gambia livestock master plan

4.2 Five-year vision for the small ruminant value

chain
The five-year vision for the small ruminant value chain improvement interventions is to increase the production of
goat meat and mutton to address the projected gap between domestic consumption and production. Goat meat
and mutton production in the Gambia is projected to grow by 54 and 59%, respectively, in the coming five years to
2027. The contributions of goat meat and mutton to GDP are projected to increase by GMD 46 million and GMD 32
million from 2023 to 2027 – equivalent to 18% and 19% increases, respectively.

4.3 Description of small ruminant production

systems
Small ruminants play an important role in the livelihoods of rural populations in the Gambia. They are raised to generate
income and meet the nutritional requirements of rural families. They are also sold to meet family needs and fulfil the
sociocultural obligations of the owners. Small ruminants are easier to sell than larger animals and serve as ready
sources of income for purchasing food during lean periods. The precarious and erratic nature of rainfall, coupled with
the concomitant crop failures observed in recent years, is forcing farmers to rely more on small ruminants to meet the
food and other requirements of their families. Furthermore, given the prolific nature and short generation interval of
small ruminants, they likely contribute significantly to the enhancement of food security and poverty alleviation in rural
communities. For these reasons, the ownership of sheep and goats is widespread in all regions.

The National Livestock Census (2016) enumerated that in the Gambia there are 172,662 sheep and 328,336 goats.
With 60,927 sheep, the Upper River Region has 35.9% of the national sheep flock. Similarly, with a population
of 85,447 or 26.2% of the caprine population, the Upper River Region has the highest population of goats when
compared to all other regions in the country.

The productivity of small ruminants under the traditional system is low owing to inadequate nutrition, poor
management practices and high mortality rates due to frequent disease outbreaks. Compared to cattle, more
sheep and goats are sold each year, with off-rates recorded at 23.6% and 25%, respectively. The yearly production
of sheep and goat meat is estimated at 550 and 1,028 tonnes, representing 0.3 kg and 0.6 kg per inhabitant,
respectively (Bahta et al. 2022).

The production systems are primarily extensive and traditional, and productivity is generally low. Domestic demand
for sheep and mutton is larger than the domestic supply. As a result, the country relies heavily on imports. The cited
low productivity is due to several challenges requiring appropriate policies and strategies to ensure the subsector’s
growth. Addressing these challenges will improve the subsector’s performance with potential contributions to food
and nutrition security and employment creation.

Although extensive systems predominate, intensive production systems (using zero grazing) produce fattened rams
targeting the “Tobaski” (the local name for the Muslim feast of Eid ul Adha) market are becoming more common.
Commercial sheep fattening schemes targeting this niche market have mushroomed countrywide. In the Western
production zone, specialized commercial farms using breeds such as Ladoum, Troibirr, Puelpuel and crosses of
Djallonke sheep and other exotic breeds are now very important.

At the National Livestock Show and Tobaski Ram Sale in 2017, a total of 33,090 Tobaski rams were presented for
sale to the public at the Livestock Show Ground in Abuko (Loum 2019). The rams presented for sale originated from
regions within the country as well as Senegal, Mali and Mauritania.

In 2019, 57 ram fattening schemes, mostly owned by women’s groups and individuals, were established with 1,310
rams. More than 900 rams were sold, and GMD 4,443,116 was generated from the sales of the rams.
The Gambia livestock master plan 21

4.4 Opportunities, challenges and strategies

Rapid urbanization and population growth have resulted in an increased demand for red meat that is partly met
through importing slaughter stock from neighbouring countries. However, in the long term, the need to sustainably
satisfy this demand (and to ease pressures on natural resources imposed by animals) will require the adoption of
intensification. Successful approaches to intensifying livestock production have already been tried and tested in the
Gambia. They include ram fattening schemes and the establishment of compost pens for cattle for improved meat,
milk and manure production and draught power. Thus, these activities and the technical, financial and institutional
support needed for their widespread dissemination constitute the core of the subsector policy strand for the
government’s 2017–2026 Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy (ANRP).

Meeting the demand for red meat will come through increased productivity of the livestock sector rather than
increased numbers of animals. It follows that priorities include genetic improvement of the indigenous breeds of
cattle and small ruminants, improvement of management practices, and the delivery of veterinary services to increase
productivity and efficiency of production.

The challenges for the red meat value chain are not dissimilar to the constraints facing the dairy sector and thus are
not repeated here. To address these challenges8, development strategies and investments are needed that target
production regions and species that have the potential to generate significant economic and social gains without
causing irreparable damage to the environment and natural resources.

4.5 Investment scenarios analysed

Consistent with analyses discussed above for cattle, the investment analysis examines two scenarios (BAU and WI)
and their implications for goat and sheep productivity and incomes; goat and sheep meat, milk and skin production;
and the contributions of the goat and sheep subsector to GDP. This allows comparison of alternatives for the
livestock planning unit and decision-makers – farmers, new goat and sheep keepers, government, private investors
and development partners (donors) – in the medium-term or five-year roadmap for the Gambia.

4.6 Overall livestock master plan targets under

the intervention scenario
Under the WI scenario, the goat population in the Gambia is projected to increase by 27.6% within five years,
from 367,126 in the LMP base year (2022) to 468,556 in 2027 (Table 7). Among the three production zones, the
population of goats is projected to increase by the same (27.6%) within five years. In terms of animal numbers,
more goats are produced in the Eastern production zone, followed by the Central and Western. This is due to the
greater abundance of feed, making the Eastern production zone an ideal location for small ruminant production. The
population of goats is projected at 243,764, 123,824 and 100,969 for Eastern, Central and Western production
zones, respectively. The women-owned sub-system dominates goat production for all three production zones
compared to the small (ownership of 1–10 head) sub-system. Both small and women-owned sub-systems are
projected to increase by 27.6% between 2022 and 2027 under all production zones (Table 7).

The total sheep population is projected to increase by 28% within five years, increasing from 191,540 in 2022 to
244,459 in 2027 under an investment scenario (Table 8). Most of the goat population is expected to be in the
Eastern production zone, and the least in the Western production zone. The population of sheep in the Eastern
production zone is projected to be twice the population in both the Western and Central zones combined in
2027. Among the three breeding systems of sheep production in the Gambia, the women-owned (Djallonke)

8. See Bahta et al. (2022).

22 The Gambia livestock master plan

dominates and is projected to outweigh the Djallonke and Sahelian under all production systems. In 2027, the
sheep population in the women-owned systems is projected at 78,044, 47,604 and 40,572 for Eastern, Central and
Western production zones, respectively (Table 8).

Table 7: Goat population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)
Goat population, WI scenario
Production zone Sub-system % change
Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Small (1–10) 38,765 38,765 38,765 38,765 38,765 49,475 27.6%

Western Women-owned 40,347 40,347 40,347 40,347 40,347 51,494 27.6%
Total 79,112 79,112 79,112 79,112 79,112 100,969 27.6%
Small (1–10) 47,539 47,539 47,539 47,539 47,539 60,674 27.6%
Central Women-owned 49,480 49,480 49,480 49,480 49,480 63,150 27.6%
Total 97,019 97,019 97,019 97,019 97,019 123,824 27.6%
Small (1–10) 93,588 93,588 93,588 93,588 93,588 119,444 27.6%
Eastern Women-owned 97,408 97,408 97,408 97,408 97,408 124,319 27.6%
Total 190,995 190,995 190,995 190,995 190,995 243,764 27.6%
Grand total population (The Gambia) 367,126 367,126 367,126 367,126 367,126 468,556 27.6%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

Table 8: Sheep population targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Sheep population, WI scenario

Production %
Breed/sub-system
zone Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 change

Djallonke 14,138 14,845 15,587 16,367 17,185 18,044 28%

Sahelian 2,786 2,925 3,071 3,225 3,386 3,555 28%

Western
Women owned (Djallonke) 14,865 15,609 16,389 17,208 18,069 18,972 28%
Total 31,789 33,379 35,047 36,800 38,640 40,572 28%
Djallonke 17,722 18,608 19,538 20,515 21,541 22,618 28%
Sahelian 944 991 1,041 1,093 1,147 1,205 28%
Central
Women-owned 18,633 19,565 20,543 21,570 22,649 23,781 28%
Total 37,299 39,164 41,122 43,178 45,337 47,604 28%
Djallonke 58,159 61,067 64,120 67,326 70,693 74,227 28%
Sahelian 3,143 3,300 3,465 3,638 3,820 4,011 28%
Eastern
Women owned (Djallonke) 61,150 64,207 67,418 70,789 74,328 78,044 28%

Total 122,452 28,574 135,003 141,753 48,841 56,283 28%

Grand total population (The Gambia) 191,540 201,117 211,173 221,731 232,818 244,459 28%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

Total goat meat production is projected to increase from 1,125 tonnes in the base year to 1,736 tonnes in 2027, a
54% increase within the period under an intervention scenario (Table 9). Most of the goat meat in 2027 is projected
to come from the Eastern production zone, followed by the Central production zone, and least in the Western
production zone. Goat meat from the Eastern production zone is more than the combined production from the other
two zones, though its percentage change in production (51%) will be less than in the Central (58%) and Western
(60%) zones. In all three production zones, the contribution of women-owned systems to total goat meat production
is projected to be more than small systems, though by a small quantity. For example, in the Eastern production
zone, goat meat from the women-owned system is projected to be 469 tonnes compared to 450 tonnes from small
systems in 2027 (Table 9).
The Gambia livestock master plan 23

Table 9: Goat meat production targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Goat meat production (tonnes)

Production
Breed/sub-system Base year % Change
zone 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
2022
Small (1–10) 113 113 113 113 113 181 60%
Western Women Owned 118 118 118 118 118 189 60%
Total 231 231 231 231 231 370 60%
Small (1–10) 139 139 139 139 139 219 58%
Central Women Owned 145 145 145 145 145 228 58%
Total 284 284 284 284 284 447 58%
Small (1–10) 299 299 299 299 299 450 51%
Eastern Women Owned 311 311 311 311 311 469 51%
Total 610 610 610 610 610 919 51%
Grand total production (The Gambia) 1,125 1,125 1,125 1,125 1,125 1,736 54%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

Under the intervention scenario, total meat from sheep is projected to increase by 59%, from a base year production
of 504 tonnes to 803 tonnes in 2027 (Table 10). Like goat meat production, most of the sheep meat is projected to
come from the Eastern production zone, followed by the Central and least in the Western production zone. Total
sheep meat from the Eastern zone is projected to be almost twice as much as the total contribution from the other
two production zones combined. In all three sub-systems, the women-owned system is projected to contribute
more sheep meat than the Djallonke and the Sahelian. Though the Central production zone is projected to produce
the least sheep meat, its percentage change in meat production is projected to be higher (94%) compared to the
Western (60%) and Eastern (51%) zones within the period (Table 10).

Table 10: Mutton production targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Mutton production (tonnes)

Production zone Breed/sub-system % Change
Base year
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
2022

Djallonke 33 36 40 44 48 53 62%

Sahelian 14 15 16 18 19 21 55%
Western
Women owned (Djallonke) 35 38 42 46 51 56 62%

Total 81 89 98 108 119 131 60%

Djallonke 35 40 46 52 60 68 95%

Sahelian 3 4 4 5 5 6 79%
Central
Women-owned 37 42 48 55 63 72 95%

Total 75 86 98 112 128 146 94%

Djallonke 162 176 191 207 225 244 51%

Sahelian 16 17 19 21 23 25 60%
Eastern
Women owned (Djallonke) 170 185 201 218 237 257 51%

Total 348 378 410 446 484 526 51%

Grand total production (The Gambia) 504 553 607 666 731 803 59%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis
24 The Gambia livestock master plan

4.7 Small ruminant improvement interventions

4.7.1 Feed improvement interventions:
The cattle meat and dairy feed improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk improvement section
also apply to sheep and goats. However, the feed interventions critical to sheep and goats are:

• Sensitize farmers to grow fodders and fodder trees as fences and hedges to supplement sheep and goats and
enhance feed availability during the dry season.

• Promote collecting, preserving and enhancing crop residues, including appropriate farmer training.

• Encourage commercial sheep and goat farms to establish intensive feed gardens using fodder legumes such as
Cajanus cajan, Leucaena and Moringa species, and other palatable species in the forested areas.

• Encourage commercial sheep and goat farms that practice zero-grazing schemes by providing subsidies.

• Improve availability of and access to agricultural by-products (cakes, bran, etc.) and raise awareness of the
importance of the by-products of cottage edible oil industries for the livestock sector.

• Train farmers on the construction of small houses for small ruminants. Farmers can construct these houses using
locally available materials. Providing farmers with manuals on constructing these small sheep and goat houses can
speed up adoption.

4.7.2 Health improvement interventions:

The cattle health service improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk improvement section
also apply to sheep and goats. However, the health improvement interventions specific to the sheep and goats
are:

• Conduct routine mass vaccinations against PPR and pasteurellosis. It is targeted to raise the percentage of sheep
and goats vaccinated to 80% by the end of the LMP period in 2027.

• Conduct routine deworming campaigns. It is targeted to raise the percentage of sheep and goats covered under
the routine deworming campaign to 60% by the end of the LMP period in 2027.

4.7.3 Genetic improvement interventions:

• Develop a breeding policy for sheep and goats in the coming three years.

• Provide matching grants of USD 2,000 as seed capital for establishing private breeding farms, which will develop
new and improve existing sheep and goat breeds and perform multiplication and distribution of the breeds.

• Encourage commercial sheep and goat farms that practice zero-grazing schemes by providing subsidies.

• Start one community-based local sheep and goat breed improvement scheme.

• Sensitize small ruminant owners about the culling of unproductive animals and the selection and retaining of
good breeding rams and bucks in the flock.

• Strengthen the existing local breed improvement research being carried out by WALIC by providing adequate
resources for purchasing additional rams and ewes, training livestock technicians, Geneticists and equipment.

• Strengthen livestock farmers’ associations such as GILMA.

The Gambia livestock master plan 25

4.7.4 Research and extension improvement interventions:

The cattle research and extension service improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk
improvement section also cater to sheep and goats. Additional research and extension improvement interventions
specific to sheep and goats are:

• Coordinate and facilitate financial support, training opportunities and the necessary equipment for WALIC to
expand its local sheep and goat improvement program.

• Provide farmers with intensive and consistent training on improved sheep and goat management practices. The
proportion of farmers getting intensive and consistent training will reach 50% by the end of the LMP period in 2027.

4.7.5 Marketing and processing improvement interventions:

• Construct adequate marketing facilities at the level of the weekly markets at Sare Ngai, Sare Bojo, Brikamaba,
Wasu, Jareng, Samitenda, Farafeni, Bureng, Kerr Pateh, Ndugukebbeh, Fass Njaga Choi and Panchang, with
fencing for livestock holding grounds, watering facilities, sheds, toilets and loading rams.

• Form small ruminant owner’s cooperatives. The cooperatives can be provided with weighing scales to facilitate
the marketing of sheep and goats.

• Improve the infrastructure at the veterinary stations in Yorro Beri Kunda, Sololo and Basse.

• Construct two more terminal markets in the coming five years.

• Promote the use of appropriate transportation facilities for animals from primary to terminal markets and enforce
the use of refrigerated transport facilities for meat transportation.

• Perform a feasibility study within two years to construct a tannery and assess the potential market for processed
hides and skins.

4.8 Investment budget

The total investment in the small ruminant value chain will be USD 1.5 million (Table 11). Feeds and feeding account
for the highest proportions of the investment, followed by marketing and genetic improvement. The private sector
and other sources will account for 39% of the investment, while the public sector will account for 61% (Figure 7).
While 24% of the investments are planned for the first year, under 20% are planned in each of the remaining four
years, except for marketing investments, where the private sector will shoulder most of the cost (71%). The public
sector will bear the highest share of the costs for other categories of interventions as well (67% to 100%) (Figure 7).
Interventions that account for the biggest share of the budget include the construction of five slaughterhouses and
five modern meat stalls and the provision of a 40% subsidy on the cost of the establishment of commercial sheep and
goat farms that practice zero grazing.

Table 11: Small ruminants roadmap investment cost by intervention areas

Total (USD Private (USD) Public (USD) Share of investments by category

Feed and feeding 625,000 205,000 420,000 40%

Animal Health 135,616 0 135,616 9%
Genetic improvement 335,345 80,000 255,345 22%
Education, research and extension services 0 0 0 0%
Marketing investments 454,385 324,385 130,000 29%
Total 1,550,346 609,385 940,961 100%
26 The Gambia livestock master plan

Figure 7: Small ruminant investment proportion by intervention areas and source of funding.

4.9 Impacts of interventions

4.9.1 Return on investment (ROI) over 20 years
An ROI analysis for the small ruminant sector was conducted over 20 years due to the long-term growth of livestock
investments. Since there is no one-size-fits-all duration in which impacts will be realized from livestock interventions,
and no synchronization of the listed interventions, a longer term of 20 years is chosen. The livestock sector in the
Gambia is still evolving, and it is believed that after this time, the necessary resources will have been gathered for the
implementation of the interventions and sufficient adoption by farmers for the intended benefits to be realized. The
three production zones are projected to achieve an IRR of 19–22% under the WI scenario (Figure 8, top). The Central
zone is projected to achieve a higher IRR because it experiences higher current mortalities compared to the other
zones. Hence, the adoption of vaccination will result in a larger reduction in mortality rates.

Similarly, a higher IRR is observed among both Djallonke and Sahelian sheep farmers in the Central zone
compared to the Western and Eastern zones. The Central zone is projected to record an IRR of 32% and 28% for
the Djallonke and Sahelian systems, respectively (Figure 8, bottom). The Eastern zone will, however, record the
lowest IRR of 23% for the Djallonke system and 17% for the Sahelian system, compared to the Western zone’s
28% for the Djallonke system and 18% for the Sahelian system under a 20-year investment period. Though the net
present values for all production zones are positive, the Central production zone is projected to have the biggest
net present value for all breeds, showing a larger return on investing in sheep production in that production zone
compared to the others.

The projections suggest that among investments in small ruminant interventions, sheep will be the most financially
viable, with larger rates of return for the Central zone and for Djallonke sheep.
The Gambia livestock master plan 27

Figure 8: Internal rate of return (IRR) for goat and sheep investments over 20 years.

4.9.2 Projected increases in income per animal in 15 years

Figure 9 shows the projected income per goat after 15 years under both BAU and WI scenarios. The Western
production zone is projected to record the highest income per animal, followed by the Eastern production zone and
lastly by the Central production zone. The income per animal for women-owned and small farms with fewer than 10
goats is GMD 937 under the WI scenario and GMD 822 under the BAU scenario. Likewise, the income per animal
for both women-owned and small farms with fewer than 10 goats is GMD 814 under the WI scenario and GMD
728 under the BAU scenario in the Eastern production zone. In the Central production zone, income per animal is
projected at GMD 786 under the WI scenario, which is GMD 151 less than that of the Western production zone and
GMD 28 less than the income per animal in the Eastern production zone (Figure 9).
28 The Gambia livestock master plan

Figure 9: Projected annual income per goat under the business as usual (BAU) and with intervention (WI) scenarios in
15 years (by 2037).

Source: LSIPT results

The annual income per sheep under both BAU and WI scenarios is projected to be higher than for goats for the three
production zones. The Central production zone will record the highest annual income per sheep for women-owned
and Djallonke systems under the WI scenario compared to the Western zone’s women-owned and Djallonke systems
given the same investment scenario (Figure 10). Interestingly, the income per sheep in the WI scenario is more than
twice that for women-owned and Djallonke systems in the BAU scenario. Investment in interventions will result in a
slight increase in income per sheep under a Sahelian system in the Western production zone (Figure 10).

Figure 10: Projected annual income per sheep under the business as usual (BAU) and with intervention (WI) scenarios
in 15 years (by 2037).

Source: LSIPT results

The Gambia livestock master plan 29

4.9.3 Meat Production

Goat and sheep meat in Gambia is projected to increase substantially when the proposed interventions outlined
in the previous sections are implemented. Total meat production from these two species is projected to increase
from 1,629 tonnes in the base year (2022) to 2,539 tonnes in 2027, a 56% increase (Table 12). The Eastern zone is
projected to produce more goat and sheep meat (958 tonnes in 2022 to 1,445 tonnes in 2027) than the Central and
Western zones. The analysis projects an increase in goat meat production from 1,125 tonnes in 2022 to 1,736 tonnes
in 2027, a 54% increase. In the Eastern production zone, goat meat is projected to experience a 51% increase from
610 tonnes to 919 tonnes, although the increase will be lower than in other zones.

Sheep meat is projected to increase from 504 tonnes in 2022 to 803 tonnes in 2017, a 59% increase. Production
in the Eastern zone is projected to increase by 51% from 348 tonnes to 526 tonnes. In contrast, sheep meat
production in the Central zone is projected to experience a larger increase (94%) compared to the Western zone
(Table 12).

Total manure production from sheep and goats is projected to increase from 52,475 thousand tonnes to 67,653
thousand tonnes between 2022 and 2027. Most of the manure in 2027 will come from goats (50,619 thousand
tonnes) – about three times the amount from sheep.

Table 12: Change in goat meat, mutton and other products under the with intervention (WI) scenario

Production
% change (base year to 2027)
Production Base year 2022 2027
Products
zone

Goats Sheep Total Goats Sheep Total Goats Sheep Total

Western 231 81 312 370 131 501 60% 60% 60%

Central 284 75 359 447 146 593 58% 94% 65%

Meat (tonnes)
Eastern 610 348 958 919 526 1,445 51% 51% 51%

Total 1,125 504 1,629 1,736 803 2,539 54% 59% 56%

Manure
The Gambia 39,276 13,199 52,475 50,619 17,035 67,653 29% 29% 29%
(thousand tonnes)
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

4.9.4 Contributions to gross domestic product (GDP)

Investments will increase the contribution of goats and sheep to GDP from GMD 429 million in 2022 to GMD 507
million in 2027 (Table 13). Most of the contribution in 2027 will come from goat meat, which is 60% larger than the
contribution from sheep. In the Eastern production zone, which produces more goat and sheep meat, the overall
contribution is projected to increase from GMD 255 million to GMD 286 million between 2022 and 2027. The
Central production zone is projected to have the largest increase in GDP contribution, followed by the Western
production zone, although the absolute magnitude of the contribution is far less than for the Eastern production
zone.

The contribution to GDP from manure from both goats and sheep is projected to increase by 31% from 2022 to
2027. Contribution from manure from both goats and sheep is projected to increase by 31% respectively between
2022 and 2027.
30 The Gambia livestock master plan

Table 13: Change in contribution to GDP of goat and sheep products under the with intervention (WI) scenario
GDP (million GMD) % Change (Base year to
Production 2027)
Product Base year 2022 2027
zone
Goats Sheep Total Goats Sheep Total Goats Sheep Total
Western 55.33 26.72 82.05 69.05 31.58 100.63 25% 18% 23%
Central 66.07 25.41 91.48 78.39 41.80 120.19 19% 65% 31%
Meat
Eastern 142.93 112.12 255.04 163.85 122.27 286.12 15% 9% 12%
Total 264.32 164.25 428.57 311.29 195.65 506.95 18% 19% 18%
The
Manure 25.08 19.46 44.53 32.82 25.55 58.37 31% 31% 31%
Gambia
All The
553.72 347.95 901.68 655.41 416.86 1,072.27 18% 20% 19%
products Gambia
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

4.10 Complementary conditions required for the success of

investments
• The Livestock Department and the Gambia Forest Department, which are under the Ministry of Agriculture of the
Gambia, need to have synchronized plans and targets to ensure the sustainable use of communal grazing lands
and forests.

• Vaccination of sheep and goats for important diseases needs to be consistent and timely in its pursuit.

• Schemes that can support emerging commercial sheep and goat farms need to be developed.

4.11 Gender and social inclusion implications for small ruminant value
chain development
Women play a major role in small ruminant (sheep and goats) production, mainly as smallholders. The overwhelming
majority of farmers involved in goat production are women and youth, mainly rearing under the extensive production
system, but also in small-scale intensive and semi-intensive production systems in some cases. Women own the
overwhelming majority of goats in the country – 68%. Most farmers keep sheep and goats under the traditional
mixed farming systems where local breeds move in flocks and graze on grasses and shrubs in the locality. In
contrast, a minority of farmers practice a market-oriented system (involving feedlots for sheep fattening). According
to DLS, 2020, the DLS Activity Report for 2019, 57 ram fattening schemes, mostly owned by women’s groups and
individuals, were established in 2019, and a total of 1,310 rams were fattened and sold in the Tobaski market.

Few farmers practice supplementary feeding, particularly for lactating ewes and fattening stock. An increase in the
population of women-owned sheep and especially goats would mean an increase in women’s and youths’ access to
financial resources; goats are easily converted into cash, which is most likely to be spent on things that improve the
quality of life for themselves and their families.

4.12 Conclusions
Closing the gaps between domestic consumption and domestic meat production requires significant improvements
in many aspects of small ruminant production: feed, animal health, genetics, marketing and processing, and
research and extension. Feed improvement through growing fodder and fodder trees as fences and hedges in the
backyard; improving availability of and access to agricultural by-products; conducting routine mass vaccinations
and deworming against major diseases and pests in relation to animal health improvement; and a host of other
interventions will improve animal productivity and population, which will, in turn, increase the production of meat
The Gambia livestock master plan 31

from sheep and goats. The goat and sheep populations are each projected to increase by about 28% between
2022 and 2027. Much of the goat and sheep population will be from the Eastern production zone, whose livestock
population is more than twice that of the Western and Central zones. Investments to implement the proposed
interventions in the small ruminant subsector are projected to result in a substantial increase in meat production from
both sheep and goats. Total meat from both species is projected to increase by 56% by 2027 with the proposed
investments, with a somewhat larger proportional increase for sheep (but a smaller absolute increase). For both
species, most of the meat is projected to come from the Eastern zone, where the concentration of small ruminants
is high. This translates into higher production of manure from goats and sheep in 2027. With these investments, it is
projected that the overall contribution of meat from small ruminants to GDP will increase by 18%, from an initial GMD
429 million in 2022 to GMD 507 million in 2027.

The analysis suggests that the government should invest in feed, animal health, extension, research and other
important components of the small ruminant value chain. Because the availability of feed is a major problem facing
the sector, more effort should be targeted at broadening and updating the inventory of feed and fodder resources to
cover all production zones and ensure that farmers are sensitized to focus more on increased fodder production and
the adoption of other improved feeding practices. With an enhanced policy environment, many other aspects of the
small ruminant value chain can be improved.
5 Chicken value chain roadmap
(2023–2027)

5.1 A summary of results and conclusions from

the 15-year livestock sector strategy (LSS)
Traditional backyard poultry is widespread in all regions, with most households in rural and peri-urban areas keeping
some birds for domestic consumption and sale at village and weekly markets. The production system practised
is mainly extensive, and women are heavily involved. Recently, commercial poultry production systems have also
evolved and are proliferating in the peri-urban areas and around the growth centres. The major challenges affecting
the poultry subsector and marketing system include dependence on imported feeds whose prices are affected by
currency fluctuations and that lack quality assurance; non-availability of day-old chicks, as there is only one known
breeder, which results in dependence on imports from Senegal; recurrent disease outbreaks, particularly Newcastle
disease and the occurrence of emerging diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza; poor linkages of
producers to markets; flooding of the local markets with cheap imports; and poor marketing infrastructure including
lack of storage facilities, which causes significant post-harvest losses through spoilage.

Proposed interventions to address the challenge of feeds include expansion of training of women and youth farmers
on the formulation of simple feed rations using locally available feed resources; feed supplementation and simple
management practices; building of low-cost housing using locally available materials; and crop residue conservation
techniques for feed use. In breeding, researchers’ documentation of information on good mothering ability in
local chickens would facilitate possible breed improvement; conservation of indigenous local chicken breeds such
as Firgi and Tunguneh; and re-introduction of affordable local incubators and the cockerel exchange program at
the community level. To address the challenge of diseases, vaccination campaigns against Newcastle disease are
recommended together with the promotion of better management practices (housing, health, and feed packages);
training women and youth on poultry vaccination and deworming for wider and better coverage; and sensitizing
farmers about disease outbreak reporting, emergency preparedness and control measures. To address challenges
in marketing, the set of interventions that are recommended include conducting sensitization campaigns and
promotion of marketing of poultry and poultry products during livestock shows and fairs; organizing poultry field and
market days to coincide with sociocultural events and celebrations; and using other market outlets such as ‘loumos’
(weekly markets) to emphasize and encourage marketing at the village level.

Results of foresight analysis indicate that:

• Without additional investments (the BAU scenario), chicken meat production is projected to increase only 43%
from 2022 to 2037, but with investments (the WI scenario), growth will be considerably higher.

• The current gap between domestic production and consumption of chicken meat is projected to persist
and widen under the BAU scenario. With investments, domestic production is projected to equal domestic
consumption between 2032 and 2037.
32
The Gambia livestock master plan 33

• Without additional investments, egg production is expected to increase only 71% from 2022 to 2037, but with
investments, this production increase is projected to be much larger – more than 600%.

• As for chicken meat, the current gap between domestic production and consumption of eggs is projected to
persist and widen under the BAU scenario. With investments, domestic production is projected to equal domestic
consumption between 2031 and 2036.

5.2 Five-year vision for the chicken value chain

The vision is to increase the income and nutritional security of chicken producers and all other individuals
in the country by raising chicken meat and egg production. The backyard indigenous chicken (BIC)
and specialized commercial chicken (SCC) populations are projected to increase by 25% and 331%, respectively,
which would significantly increase meat production by 135% for BIC and 421% for SCC over the five-year LMP
period. Similarly, egg production in the country is projected to increase by 25% and 218% for BIC and SCC,
respectively. It is also projected that the combined GDP contribution of the poultry sector will increase by 244%
during the LMP period.

5.3 Investment scenarios analysed

As with other livestock species, the BAU and WI investment scenarios are examined for chicken and eggs. These
scenarios are assessed for their implications on productivity, farmers’ incomes, chicken meat and egg production,
and contribution to GDP. The WI scenario increases farmers’ incomes, chicken meat and egg production,
and contribution to GDP through assumed increases in the number and productivity of chickens. In the case
of commercial layers and broilers, the WI scenario primarily targets increasing the number of chickens and
complementary input and service improvements. The WI scenario in the case of backyard chickens, on the other
hand, focuses mainly on increasing the productivity per bird of egg and meat.

5.4 Description of chicken production systems

Traditional poultry production is the predominant chicken production system in the Gambian farming system. It is
extensive, and birds are poorly housed and fed and provided with little or no veterinary healthcare. Small flocks
(10–15 birds) that are mostly owned and managed by women and children are kept in the backyards of their owners’
households. They are confined during the night in kitchens or locally made shelters to minimize predation, whereas
during the daytime birds are left to scavenge in backyards. Supplementary feeds such as millet, coos, brans and
household leftovers are provided in the evenings when they return to the households. The poultry flocks are made
up of local breeds that are low producers of meat and eggs compared to exotic breeds. However, the birds are
hardy and relatively easy to convert to cash or slaughter for home consumption, and for this reason, they serve as a
ready source of income and protein for many households in rural communities.

According to the National Livestock Census (2016), there were 937,951 chickens in the Gambia. Out of these,
94.5% were produced using the extensive free-range traditional/backyard system, whereas 5.5% were from
intensive/commercial farms. Results of the Census indicate that 67% of chickens were owned by women. Almost
every Gambian family in the rural areas owns chickens. Commercial farmers keep improved breeds – both broilers
and layers. All commercial farmers use complete feeds, and almost all forms of complete poultry feeds are imported
into the country.
34 The Gambia livestock master plan

5.5 Overall livestock master plan targets under

the intervention scenario
The total commercial chicken population is projected to increase under the WI scenario by 331% over five years. In
contrast, BIC hens are projected to increase by 25% in the same period (Table 14). The largest commercial chicken
population is projected to come from broilers, with an estimated 64% of the commercial chicken population in 2027.
The broiler population is projected to increase by 438% compared to 218% for the layer population over the five
years.

Table 14: Backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) and specialized commercial chicken (SCC) population targeted for five
years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Chicken system Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % change

BIC hens number 88,108 92,072 96,216 100,545 105,070 109,798 25%

Layers 112,755 142,071 179,010 225,552 284,196 358,087 218%

Broilers 119,113 166,758 233,461 326,845 457,583 640,616 438%

Total SCC 231,868 308,829 412,470 552,397 741,779 998,703 331%

Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

Over the five years, chicken meat is projected to increase by 315% by 2027 (Table 15). Meat from commercial
chickens is projected to make up about 79% of the total projected chicken meat in 2027. Broiler meat is projected to
make up most of the projected meat from commercial chickens (95%) in 2027, whereas meat from BIC would make
up only 21% of the total meat projected to be produced in 2027. Although commercial meat production is projected
to increase by 421%, meat from BIC will also witness an increase of 135% over five years.

Meanwhile, total egg production is projected to increase by 197% over five years (Table 15). Much of this increased
egg production is projected to come from commercial layers, with 95.6% of the total egg production in 2027. Eggs
from BIC are projected to increase by 25%, from 2.6 million in 2022 to 3.3 million in 2027.

Table 15: Production of eggs and meat from backyard indigenous chickens (BIC) and specialized commercial
chickens (SCC) targeted for five years under the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Chicken Base year

Unit 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % change
systems 2022

Meat BIC Tonnes 455 540 641 760 902 1,070 135%

Layers Tonnes 61 76 96 121 153 193 218%

Broilers Tonnes 713 998 1,397 1,956 2,738 3,833 438%

Total SCC Tonnes 773 1,074 1,493 2,077 2,891 4,026 421%

Overall Tonnes 1,228 1,614 2,134 2,837 3,793 5,096 315%

Eggs BIC Thousands 2,643 2,762 2,886 3,016 3,152 3,294 25%

SCC Thousands 22,421 28,251 35,596 44,851 56,512 71,205 218%

Overall Thousands 25,064 31,013 38,482 47,867 59,664 74,499 197%

Source: The Gambia LMP analysis
The Gambia livestock master plan 35

5.6 Opportunities, challenges and strategies

There is a very high demand for eggs and poultry, particularly in the urban and peri-urban areas, and this is satisfied
mainly through imports. However, most consumers prefer chicken produced through the traditional extensive
(backyard) system with the belief that it is organic and tastes better.

The challenge to traditional backyard poultry production is centred around the dependence on indigenous chicken
breeds that are not very productive; high mortality rates when outbreaks of Newcastle disease and other poultry
diseases occur; poor management practices; and inadequate access to balanced feeds and veterinary services. The
biggest challenge for the commercial poultry sector is the dependence on imported feed and other production
inputs and inadequate access to credit.

Strategies for strengthening the performance of the poultry subsector should include the following:

• Upscale the Newcastle disease vaccination campaigns to include backyard poultry farmers to reduce mortality
and morbidity during outbreaks.

• Train women farmers on the provision of better management practices (housing, health and feed packages) for
poultry.

• Introduce the provision of hygienic shelters made from locally available materials.

• Sensitize backyard poultry farmers on disease outbreak reporting, emergency preparedness and control
measures to take when outbreaks occur.

• Promote feed supplementation and improved housing to enhance the capacity of farmers to produce greater
numbers of chicks and eggs for sale and domestic consumption.

• Carry out sensitization campaigns and promote marketing of poultry and poultry products during livestock shows
and other events.

• Encourage the usage of other marketing outlets such as loumos (weekly markets) to market poultry and poultry
products.

5.7 Improving backyard indigenous chickens

(BIC) (2023–2027)
5.7.1 Targets for backyard indigenous chickens
As stated in the previous section, the BIC hen population will increase by 25% under the WI scenario, and meat from
BIC will increase by 135% during the five years (Table 16). Eggs from BIC will increase by 25% over the period, which
suggests investments will benefit the farmers and households who focus on BIC production.

Table 16: Number of hens and chicken eggs and meat production in backyard indigenous chicken projected for
2022 to 2027.

Chicken systems Base year 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 % change

Hens 88,108 92,072 96,216 100,545 105,070 109,798 25%

Meat (tonnes) 455 540 641 760 902 1,070 135%
Eggs (thousands) 2,643 2,762 2,886 3,016 3,152 3,294 25%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis
36 The Gambia livestock master plan

5.7.2 Backyard indigenous chicken improvement priority interventions

5.7.2.1 Feed and feeding intervention:
• Enact regulations and acts that discourage the export of brans and oil seed cakes outside the country within three
years.

• Sensitize and train farmers on utilizing and feeding locally available feed supplements, brans and oil seed cakes
to BIC. It is targeted that the number of BIC farmers that supplement their birds with locally available feed
supplements, brans and oil seed cakes will increase to 15% in five years (2023–2027).

• Advise farmers on different possible ration formulas, which can constantly evolve with the dynamic locally
available feed base. BIC ration formulas can be produced using locally available feeds, and farmers will be
sensitized.

5.7.2.2 Health interventions:

Many of the health service improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk improvement
intervention sections also apply to other livestock species, including chickens. The following interventions are
specific to the chicken sector:

• Increase the number of vaccinated BIC against Newcastle disease and fowl pox to 65% by the end of 2027. By
2022, the total number of BIC vaccinated against these priority diseases was about 86,500, i.e., about 8.6% (DLS
2020).

• Increase the percentage of farmers applying internal and external parasite treatments to 65% by the end of 2027.
Currently, the practice of applying internal and external parasite treatments to BIC is rare.

• Facilitate animal medication access by creating additional veterinary outlets (pharmacies) and cold storage
facilities for vaccines.

• Train farmers on biosecurity measures.

5.7.2.3 Genetic improvement:

• Develop a BIC breeding policy in the coming two years.

• Establish a BIC breed improvement program and distribute improved indigenous cocks. In five years of the
LMP period, it is targeted to start the pilot phase and distribute improved indigenous cocks to farmers for pilot
research work.

• This and the below are projected outcomes from investments, not actions.

Table 17: Projected increase in the number of backyard indigenous chickens (BIC) and per cent growth rate under
two scenarios

BIC population Population growth rate

Scenarios
2022 (base year) 2027 2022 to 2027

Business as usual (BAU) 1,117,173 1,250,222 2.28%

With additional investment (WI) 1,117,173 1,392,202 4.5%

Source: LSIPT results

The extension and research improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk improvement section
also cater to different livestock species, including chickens. Additional extension-related interventions that are
specific to chickens are:
The Gambia livestock master plan 37

• Increase the number of farmers receiving intensive and continuous chicken improvement trainings (training,
exchange visits, farmer advisory services, practical demonstrations) to 20,000 (about 50% of BIC farmers) by the
end of the five years (2027). Currently, very few farmers get BIC improvement training.

• Develop BIC improvement training manuals in the coming two years and encourage farmers to also engage in the
commercial production of BIC.

5.7.2.4 Marketing and processing interventions:

• Establish 10 indigenous chicken producers’ cooperatives and a federation.

5.7.3 Impacts of backyard indigenous chicken interventions

5.7.3.1 Production impacts
Meat production from BIC is projected to increase by 135% over five years (Table 16). Similarly, the proposed
interventions are projected to increase egg production from BIC by 25% in 2027. The increase in meat and eggs
from BIC is projected to result from the increase in the population of BIC hens by 25% within the period based on the
assumed impact of the interventions described in the previous section.

5.7.3.2 GDP impacts

The adoption of the proposed interventions is projected to increase the contribution of BIC to GDP significantly, from
GMD 51 million in 2022 to GMD 157 million in 2027 (Table 18). Much of this contribution will come from increased
chicken meat, for which a 253% increase is projected. The contribution of BIC eggs to GDP is projected to increase
much less at 32%.

Table 18: Changes in GDP contribution of backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) for 2022 and 2027

Products 2022 2027 Change in %

Meat GDP contribution GMD 41 million GMD 144 million 253%

Eggs GDP contribution GMD 10 million GMD 14 million 32%

Total BIC GDP contribution GMD 51 million GMD 157 million 208%

Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

5.8 Scaling up specialized commercial chicken

(SCC) production (2023–2027)
5.8.1 Specialized commercial chicken targets
The total population of both layers and broilers is projected to increase by 331%, from 231,867 in 2022 to 998,703
in 2027. The broiler population, which makes up 64% of the total projected population in 2027, is expected to
increase by 438%, and the layer population is projected to increase by 218% over the five years (Table 19). An
increase in animal numbers is projected to increase total SCC meat production from 773 tonnes to 4,026 tonnes, a
421% increase. Broiler meat, which is projected to form the majority of the total chicken meat from SCC, is projected
to increase by 438% compared to a 218% increase for layers. Eggs are projected to increase by 218%, from 22.4
million to 71.2 million.
38 The Gambia livestock master plan

Table 19: Increase in numbers of chickens and egg and meat production in specialized commercial chicken (SCC)
systems

Chicken farm types Base year 2022 2023 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027 % change

Layers 112,755 142,071 179,010 225,552 284,196 358,087 218%

Broilers 119,113 166,758 233,461 326,845 457,583 640,616 438%
Total 231,867 308,829 412,470 552,397 741,779 998,703 331%
Layers – meat (tonnes) 61 76 96 121 153 193 218%
Broilers – meat (tonnes) 713 998 1,397 1,956 2,738 3,833 438%
Total – meat (tonnes) 773 1,074 1,493 2,077 2,891 4,026 421%
Layers – eggs (thousands) 22,421 28,251 35,596 44,851 56,512 71,205 218%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

5.8.2 Challenges for commercial chicken production in the Gambia

The constraints and challenges facing both layer and broiler producers are very similar. They are associated with
difficulties importing day-old chicks and feed, frequent disease outbreaks and inadequate market infrastructure.
Commercial farmers depend on imported feeds and day-old chicks, making them vulnerable to currency fluctuations
and price hikes. Cheaper imported eggs and broilers are distorting the market and putting heavy pressure on local
producers.

Strategies for strengthening the performance of the commercial chicken subsector include the following:

• Discourage export of locally produced chicken feed ingredients.

• Encourage the establishment of parent-stock farms.

• Strengthen the commercial chicken feed, day-old chick and other input quality control/regulation systems.

5.8.3 Priority interventions in the specialized commercial chicken value

chain
5.8.3.1Feed and feeding interventions
• Strengthen the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) to improve its capacity to regulate the quality of feeds
and feed ingredients. The FSQA can also closely work with the locally available feed quality laboratories.

• Prepare commercial chicken feed quality standards within two years

• Encourage and support farmers to grow maize and soybean with or without irrigation for use as a chicken feed
ingredient

• Encourage contract farming between feed millers/processors and cereal farmers by holding matchmaking
events.

• Encourage the importation of maize for poultry feed to decrease pressure on indigenous maize production used
for human consumption. Also, encourage the importation of other poultry feed ingredients such as soybean,
minerals, vitamins and pre-mixes.

• Improve the utilization of the installed capacity of the existing five commercial chicken feed processing plants and
establish additional chicken feed processing plants as required.
The Gambia livestock master plan 39

• Establish silos for both imported and locally produced chicken feed ingredients and processed feeds in a public–
private partnership (PPP) in five years.

• Conduct additional research on alternative feed ingredients for poultry production.

Table 20: Projected annual feed requirement estimates for commercial chicken in the Gambia in the coming five
years[2]

Commercial chicken annual feed requirement estimates (tonnes)

Farming systems
Base year 2022 2027

Layers 3,270 10,385

Annual feed requirements Broilers 1,787 9,609

Total 5,057 19,994

Source: LSIPT result and own calculation

• Health interventions

• Sensitize indigenous and commercial chicken farmers to vaccinate all their birds against Newcastle disease,
gumboro, fowl pox and Marek’s disease to mitigate the risk of cross infections.

• Train all commercial farmers and traders on biosecurity measures.

5.8.3.2 Genetic improvement interventions

• Establish one commercial chicken parent stock farm with subsidies from the government within three years.

• Increase the number of hatcheries. Currently, there is demand for about 800,000 day-old chicks per year. The
number of hatcheries needs to be increased to meet the expected day-old chick demand of about 4 million per
year (about 3.8 million broilers and 0.2 million layers) by 2027.

• Promote contracts between hatcheries and parent stock farmers.

Table 21: Projected increases in the number of commercial farms and average farm size under the scenario with
additional investment (WI)
Farming systems Base year 2022 2027

Number of commercial chicken farms Layer 113 179

Broiler 238 641
Number of birds per commercial farm Layer 1,000 2,000
Broiler (per cycle) 500 1,000
Source: LSIPT results and own calculation

Table 22: Projected increases in the number of commercial chickens and per cent growth rate under two scenarios

Commercial chickens in different Commercial chicken population annual growth

Farming scenarios rate in different target years and scenarios
Scenarios
systems
Base year 2022 2027 2022 to 2027

Business as usual Layer 112,755 126,183 2.28%

(BAU)
Broiler 119,113 133,298 2.28%

Total 231,868 259,481 2.28%

40 The Gambia livestock master plan

Commercial chickens in different Commercial chicken population annual growth

Farming scenarios rate in different target years and scenarios
Scenarios
systems
Base year 2022 2027 2022 to 2027
With additional Layer 112,755 358,087 26.00%
investment (WI) Broiler 119,113 640,616 40.00%
Total 231,868 998,703 34.00%
Source: LSIPT results

Table 23: Projected estimate of increase in the number of commercial day-old chick demand in the with additional
investment (WI) scenario

Farming systems Base year 2022 2027

Annual demand for day-old chicks in the WI Layers9 75,170 238,725

scenario
Broilers10 714,678 3,843,696

Total 789,848 4,082,421

Source: LSIPT results

5.8.3.3 Extension and research interventions

The extension and research improvement interventions listed under the cattle meat and milk improvement section
also cater to different livestock species, including chickens. An additional extension-related SCC-specific intervention
is:

• Support private extension service providers by encouraging veterinary and livestock experts and subsidizing the
establishment cost of veterinary pharmacies and input shops. These can serve as veterinary and extension service
provision posts.

5.8.3.4 Marketing and processing interventions

• Develop the appropriate acts and regulations in the coming two years to regulate the import of eggs.

• Promote and support the establishment of cold storage rooms (preferably with solar power) and the development
of cold chain transportation facilities by subsidizing the private sector.

• Promote and support the formation of commercial chicken producer groups and associations. Strengthen the
existing commercial feed producers’ association.

• Support contracts between groups of producers and buyers.

• Create platforms for chicken, egg and chicken input producers and buyers to improve the chicken value chain.

5.8.4 Impacts of interventions on commercial chicken production

5.8.4.1Production
Total meat production from broilers and chickens is projected to increase by 421% by 2027 with the implementation
of the interventions proposed in the previous section. Most of the meat is projected to come from broilers, with
an increase of 428% between 2022 and 2027, compared to an increase of 218% for meat from layers (Table 19).
This projected increase in broiler meat production is due to the projected increases in demand due to population

9. To do the DOC estimates for layers, the total population of layers in the 5thyear and the production cycle per year of about 0.7 cycles/year was used
10. To do the DOC estimates for broilers, the total population of broilers in the 5th year and the production cycle per year of about 6 cycles/year was
used
The Gambia livestock master plan 41

increase, urbanization and higher incomes. Similarly, egg production by layers is also projected to increase by 218
within the LMP period. This projected increase in meat and egg production will be due to the 331% increase in the
population of broilers and layers during the period (Table 19).

5.8.4.2 Income per bird

Results of the analysis reveal a substantial increase in income per bird that will accrue to women who raise birds
under the backyard system when the proposed interventions on the different components of the value chain are
adopted. The women in the backyard system will witness an increase in their income per bird from GMD 582 in 2022
to GMD 2,357 in 2037, a 305% increase (Table 24). With mostly women involved in this type of production system,
it is important that the needed investments are made to empower women and help transform the sector to improve
livelihoods.

Table 24: Annual income per animal from women-owned backyard chickens in 2023 and 2037 under the scenario
with additional investment (WI)

Base year 2023 2037 % change

Women-owned backyard chickens, income per bird GMD 582 GMD 2,357 305%

Source: LSIPT results

5.8.4.3 GDP contribution

The contribution of meat and eggs from SCC to the country’s GDP is projected to increase by 360% and 197%
respectively between 2022 and 2027 (Table 25). About three-quarters of the higher GDP contribution in 2027 is
projected to come from increased meat production. However, the total GDP contribution from SCC is projected to
increase from GMD 31.5 million to GMD 127 million in five years, about a 300% increase. This will further contribute
substantially to the overall contribution of livestock to agricultural GDP and national GDP estimates.

Table 25: GDP contribution from the specialized commercial chicken (SCC) system, 2022 and 2027

Products Base year 2022 2027 % change

SCC meat GDP contribution GMD 20.5 million GMD 94.2 million 360%

SCC eggs GDP contribution GMD 11 million GMD 32.8 million 197%

Total GDP contribution GMD 31.5 million GMD 127 million 303%

Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

5.9 Investment budget

Total investments in chicken meat and eggs are about USD 5.7 million during the five years of the LMP. Animal health
accounts for the largest share of the investment (54%) (Table 26). Most investments are expected from the private
sector (Figure 11). The annual level of investments is planned to rise steadily from about USD 840,000 in the first year
to USD 1,450,000 in year five (Annex Table 8). Specific interventions accounting for the largest share of the total
investments include supporting the adoption of the practice of applying internal and external parasite treatments
to 65%; increasing the number of hatcheries and hatchery capacity to meet the expected day-old chick demand
of about 4 million; increasing the proportion of vaccinated backyard chickens against Newcastle disease and fowl
pox to 65%; and promoting the establishment of cold storage and purchase of cold transportation facilities by
subsidizing the private sector (Table 26).
42 The Gambia livestock master plan

Table 26: Chicken roadmap investment cost by intervention areas

Share of investments
Total (USD) Private (USD) Public (USD)
by category

Feed and feeding 1,045,000 639,500 405,500 18%

Animal Health 3,076,830 3,001,830 75,000 54%

Genetic improvement 860,000 768,000 92,000 15%

Education, research and extension services 50,000 0 50,000 1%

Marketing investments 690,000 402,000 288,000 12%
Total 5,721,830 4,811,330 860,500 100%

Figure 11: Chicken investments by intervention areas and source of funding.

5.10 Impact of chicken improvement interventions

on total chicken meat and egg production and
GDP contribution
5.10.1 Total chicken eggs and meat production
Additional investments in the proposed chicken improvement interventions in both the BIC and SCC systems
improve meat and egg production from the base year. Total meat production is projected to increase by 315% within
five years, from an initial 1,228 tonnes to 5,096 tonnes (Table 27). The majority of this is projected to come from
SCC, whose contribution will be 3.8 times more than the contribution from BIC. While meat from the SCC system
is projected to increase by 421%, that of BIC will increase by 135% within five years. On the other hand, total egg
production resulting from investments in chicken improvement interventions is projected to increase by 197%. Like
meat production, the majority of this is projected to come from the SCC system, with a contribution that is about
22 times more than that of the BIC system. This is due to the increased animal population that will result from the
additional investments in the interventions.
The Gambia livestock master plan 43

Table 27: Backyard indigenous chicken (BIC) and specialized commercial chicken (SCC) meat and egg production in
the scenario with additional investment (WI)

Products Unit Base year 2022 2027 % change

Total chicken meat from BIC system Tonnes 455 1,070 135%

Total chicken meat from SCC system Tonnes 773 4,026 421%

Total chicken meat production Tonnes 1,228 5,096 315%

Total eggs from the BIC system Thousands 2,643 3,294 25%

Total eggs from SCC layers Thousands 22,421 71,205 218%

Total egg production Thousands 25,064 74,499 197%

Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

5.10.2 Total chicken GDP contribution

It is projected that an increase in meat and egg production from both BIC and SCC systems resulting from additional
investments in chicken improvement interventions will increase the contribution of the chicken subsector to GDP.
The total GDP contribution of chicken meat and eggs from both systems is projected to increase by 244%, from
GMD 82.70 million in 2022 to GMD 284.47 million in 2027 (Table 28). The contribution from BIC to GDP will
increase by 208% over the period compared to 303% for SCC, although in terms of magnitude, the contribution of
BIC will be more than that of SCC in 2027.

Table 28: Estimate of total chicken meat and eggs GDP contribution in the with additional investment scenario (in
Million GMD)

Products Base year 2022 2027 % change

Backyard indigenous chicken meat and eggs GDP contribution 51.21 157.49 208%

Specialized commercial chicken meat and eggs GDP

31.5 127.0 303%
contribution

Total GDP contribution of chicken meat and eggs 82.70 284.47 244%
Source: The Gambia LMP analysis

5.10.3 Return on investment (ROI)

Similar to the backyard system, the ROI under the SCC system indicates that investing in either layer or broiler
production is expected to be financially viable. The 20-year net present value analysis for layer production (GMD 4.8
million) and broiler production (GMD 776,000) are both positive, suggesting that the discounted present value of
future cash flows related to investment in both production systems will be positive and hence attractive.

5.11 Complementary conditions required for the

success of investments
• Land and finance are available for investors in the SCC system.

• There is strong quality control of processed chicken feed, feed ingredients and other chicken inputs.

• More research is conducted on BIC to improve their productivity while keeping their merits.
44 The Gambia livestock master plan

5.12 Gender and social inclusion implications for

chicken value chain development
In the Gambia, traditional backyard poultry production predominates in all production zones. Most households
in rural and peri-urban areas keep some birds for domestic consumption and sale at the village level and weekly
markets. Often the small flocks of backyard poultry are owned and managed by women and children. Poultry
production in the Gambia for both exotic and local breeds is constrained by the lack of balanced poultry feed and
its high cost, poor housing, and diseases, especially Newcastle disease, which has extremely high mortality and
morbidity rates (almost 100%).

Enhancing productivity in backyard poultry activities through improved animal health, particularly vaccination against
Newcastle disease, and improvement in poultry housing and feeding will play an important role in the economic
empowerment of women and youth due to increased earnings from sales of birds and eggs. The enhanced
availability of chicken meat and eggs will contribute to better nutrition for all, especially women and children.
Due to the prominent role of women and youth in poultry activities, the delivery of extension messages and other
interventions should actively target them to have a higher chance of success.

The scope for leveraging the poultry value chain to address the challenges of widespread poverty and poor nutrition
among vulnerable groups such as women in the Gambia is large, owing to a huge market for poultry and poultry
products, especially considering the tourist industry including both the formal and informal sectors, hotels and the
fast-growing bed and breakfast providers in private properties.

5.13 Conclusions
As significant as poultry is to the majority of households in the Gambia, and the growing interest in commercial
poultry production, the number of constraints identified in the areas of feed, animal health, provision of services
and marketing, among others, are limiting the benefits that poultry provides to individuals, households and the
economy. Poultry, particularly traditional backyard chicken, forms a major part of the diet of most Gambian homes
and is significant in serving as a source of investment for meeting other household demands. It is one of the main
agricultural activities for women and other vulnerable groups in the Gambia. Still, little attention has been given to
its improvement compared to the other species, though some strides have been made. With the demand for both
chicken meat and eggs projected to increase due to factors such as urbanization, population growth and increase
in incomes, there is the need to focus on interventions that will improve the industry in the areas of feed quality and
quantity, animal health, and provision of support services such as extension and veterinary, marketing, processing,
research, genetic improvement and access to credit by farmers.

The proposed improvement intervention requires private and public investment to ensure that the sector is given
appropriate attention and support. Promotion of biosecurity measures at the individual, household, community,
regional and national levels is needed in animal health improvement. Raising the availability and quality of feeds,
strengthening poultry producers’ associations, and improving processing facilities are some of the interventions
needed to support the growth of the layer and broiler chicken population. With the much-needed investments in
the areas mentioned, it is projected that BIC and SCC populations will increase by 25% and 331%, respectively,
which will significantly increase meat production by 135% for BIC and 421% for SCC over the five years. Egg
production from BIC is also projected to increase by 25%, while that of SCC will increase by 218%, with a combined
GDP contribution of 244% over the period. These increases will positively impact the livelihoods of women poultry
farmers.
6 Complementary and added value
of the livestock master plan to the
livestock budget planning of the
Government of the Gambia

The Gambia LMP was prepared to complement the budget and livestock planning process. The following section
discusses the complementarities of the Gambia LMP with the National Development Plan (NDP), Agriculture and
Natural Resource Policy (ANRP) and the Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan II (GNAIP II). The Gambia
livestock budget is analysed to highlight the added value of the LMP, followed by a discussion of any overlaps
in the livestock budget and LMP strategies and activities so that the Ministry of Agriculture or Animal Production
Department can rationalize the budget allocated towards the livestock sector and, where necessary, to improve the
implementation potential of investment.

6.1 The Gambia Livestock Master Plan (LMP)

The Gambia LMP, which includes a livestock sector analysis, livestock sector survey (LSS) and the investment
roadmaps, has been produced through a quantitative analysis using a herd and economic sector model (HESM)
developed by experts from the Ministry of Agriculture and the ILRI team. The HESM developed in the livestock
sector analysis and LSS made possible the elaboration of the detailed five-year investment plans, which make up the
livestock value chain roadmaps, with each roadmap having focused interventions, investment budget activity and
time plans. As explained in the introduction to the livestock sector analysis, the objective of the Gambia LMP is to
provide quantitative and evidence-based justification for greater public and private funding of sector investments.
The LSS resulted in recommended and prioritized livestock value chains and investment interventions with the most
potential to further modernize the sector. The recommended investments have been chosen based on an analysis of
the ROIs in additional combined technology and policy options. The LSS foresight or future impact analysis resulted
in investment roadmaps for dairy, red meat and chicken.

6.1.1 Summary of total LMP budget

Table 29 presents the consolidated budget for the dairy and beef, small ruminants and poultry value chains.
Implementation of the proposed interventions in the Gambia LMP in the first five years will cost about USD 44.2
million, with the public and private sectors contributing USD 33.2 million and 11.0 million, respectively. Investments
in animal health will account for 35% of the investments, closely followed by education, research and extension
services (33%).

45
46 The Gambia livestock master plan

Table 29: Consolidated budget for the LMP priority livestock value chains
Share of investments
Overall Total Private Public
by category
Feed and feeding 5,991,880 3,239,190 2,752,690 14%
Animal Health 15,579,265 3,538,649 12,040,616 35%
Genetic improvement 4,475,316 1,204,486 3,270,831 10%
Education, research and extension services 14,559,051 2,000,000 12,559,051 33%
Marketing investments 3,587,473 976,385 2,611,088 8%
Total 44,192,985 10,958,709 33,234,276 100%

6.2 Value addition of the LMP process

The priority livestock value chains of the Gambia LMP are cattle, sheep and goats, and poultry. In preparing the LMP,
the animal husbandry department and ILRI team of experts tried not to duplicate the strategies covered in the NDP
and ANRP.

In the LMP, the prioritized set of livestock roadmaps recommended are three and are somewhat differently
focused: cattle (N’Dama, Zebu/Gobra and commercial dairy), small ruminants (Djallonke, Sahelian and women-
owned [Djallonke]) and poultry (layer, broiler, backyard indigenous chickens). The choice of the recommended
livestock value chains in the LMP is well explained, as well as the contribution of the livestock sector to the country’s
development objectives.

The LMP adds a more detailed quantitative analysis of the current state of the livestock sector and proposes future
investment interventions which could help achieve the country’s development objectives and the NDP and ANRP
targets.

In the LMP, the HESM was used to do the following additional quantitative analyses:

• Projecting the future demand for the priority livestock products and setting production targets to meet this future
demand.

• Identifying the challenges and opportunities faced in achieving the targets.

• Making the links between the interventions chosen and their impacts on LMP and livestock development in the
country.

• Calculating the expected returns from proposed investments (ROIs) in alternative interventions to achieve the
targets.

• Calculating the intervention impacts on the country’s development goals: income growth, employment and
farmer investment.

• Specifying the additional investments (public–private partnerships) required to implement the interventions and
reach the LMP targets.

• Identifying the complimentary success factors needed to achieve the projected impacts.

• Identifying policy changes needed to achieve the technology results to be combined with the technology
interventions.

In the LSS, future demand growth was determined by rates of change in human population and urbanization and per
capita income and the income elasticities of demand for the various livestock food products. However, no projection
has been made to prepare the government’s 2022/23 livestock budget and set the targets in the NDP and ANRP.
The Gambia livestock master plan 47

In the LSS and investment roadmaps, the following measures were taken to ensure that the targets and results of the
projections were reliable:

• Several sessions of virtual meetings and in-country visits for data collection were undertaken, in which the LMP
team cross-checked the data and model results.

• Estimates of technical productivity parameters, population numbers and economic and financial data, as well as
information on the opportunities, challenges and interventions used to specify the HESM model, were collected
from published literature and cross-checked by experts from different organizations working in the livestock
sector in the Gambia.

• One-on-one consultations and group-level technical discussions were held to get expert agreement on all data
and parameters and to ensure realistic model projections and results.

• Data projections were made using the HESM and sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify critical data and
parameters impacting the targets and projections of results.

• The experts further cross-checked and validated model results at several virtual stakeholder workshops, where
the NTC and external experts representing government departments, research and the private sector attended.
All parameters, projections and results were endorsed.

• Among the more important examples of the added value of the Gambia LMP is the fact that the LMP has analysed
details of the livestock sector of the Gambia before proposing any investment. The LMP analysed the impacts
of recommended interventions on gender, by focusing on value chains that women are engaged in currently
in the Gambia, and provides strategies and activities for institutionalizing gender and social inclusion-sensitive
interventions. The LMP, besides presenting the impacts of interventions, projects demand requirements from
the base year and projected impacts of interventions on mean household income and GDP. The LMP presents
the base year and projected impacts of interventions on household income (or poverty reduction), GDP (or
national income), food and nutritional security, surplus production for exports, income for investment generation,
etc. Three livestock production zones were identified and considered in the LMP to contextualize the different
opportunities, challenges and interventions.

• GDP contributions are also disaggregated by value chains, agroecological zones, species, breeds and herd sizes. This
disaggregation helps to prioritize value chains, species and breeds, as well as allocation of funding. In the NDP and
ANRP, the projected impacts of interventions are not available. The impacts of interventions on livestock population,
household income and GDP can be traced from the animal to the production zone/national level in the LMP.

• The LMP complements the NDP and ANRP because those do not project the impacts of interventions.
Furthermore, because the uptake of the proposed investment interventions could be limited by the availability of
input resources, especially feed and land, an analysis of feed balance was done to see the potential increase in
milk, meat and egg production given the limitation of land and feed resources.

6.3 Summary of existing agriculture and livestock

plans
The livestock sector in the Gambia does not have a standalone sectoral strategic plan or policy. However, the policy
environment for the livestock sector is anchored on three policies that are closely interlinked in terms of visions and
objectives:

• The National Development Plan (NDP) (2018–2021)

• The Agriculture and Natural Resources Policy (ANRP) (2017–2026)

• The Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan II (GNAIP II) ( 2019–2026)

48 The Gambia livestock master plan

The policy objectives of the NDP were the creation of “a modern, sustainable and market-oriented agriculture and
livestock sector for increased food and nutrition security, income and nutrition security, employment generation,
poverty reduction, and economic transformation”. This policy document set targets for the livestock sector that were
to be met within three years: to increase cattle production by 8%, sheep by 5%, goats by 11%, backyard poultry by
8% and commercial poultry by 6%.

The ANRP 2017–2026 was developed with a significant departure from the development emphasis of the last 20
years, and is founded on a vision of creating “a marketed-led commercialized, efficient, competitive and dynamic
ANR sector in the context of sustainable development”. It is guided by the over-arching objective of maximization
of poverty reduction and enhancement of food, income and nutrition securities through the optimal utilization of the
resources of the sector consistent with safeguarding the integrity of the environment.

The ANRP recognizes that the continued growth and expansion of the livestock industry will depend on the
availability of a quality, reliable and inexpensive supply of animal feed and feed supplements. Thus, further efforts
in diversifying the rudimentary feed industry are being undertaken to sustain the comparative and competitive
advantage in producing meat, eggs and milk for domestic consumption and expanded export.

The ANRP (in conformity with the LMP) reiterates that satisfying the increased demand for animal products and easing
pressure on natural resources imposed by animals will require the adoption of intensification. Thus, both propose
the upscaling of intensification, such as ram fattening schemes and the establishment of compost pens for improved
meat, milk and manure production and draught power. Thus, these activities and their needed technical, financial
and institutional support for their widespread dissemination constitute the core of the sector policy strand for the
ANRP 2017–2026. The mentioned activities, among others, include the following:

• Improvement of the feeding systems for cattle, small ruminants and poultry by increasing the availability of high-
quality forage, conserving and feeding cereal crop residues.

• Improvement of the genetic potential of local species (cattle, small ruminants and poultry) through selection
(open nucleus breeding systems), crossbreeding and importing exotic genetic material.

Analysis of technical feasibility and financial profitability of intensification of enterprises so that husbandry practices
needed to advance the industry can be formulated for dissemination by the extension services. The LMP investment
roadmaps contribute relevant information about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of the intensification
approaches being promoted by the ANRP.

Lastly, GNAIP II constitutes the main investment framework for agricultural development in the Gambia in the
medium term (2019–2026). The GNAIP II aims to increase food and nutrition security at the household level,
including for vulnerable households, through increased agricultural and natural resource productivity based on
sustainable use and management of natural resources in support of national goals of poverty reduction and improved
livelihood. The GNAIP II constitutes six priority axes:

1. Production and value chain promotion on food crops and vegetable subsector.

2. Production and value chain promotion on livestock husbandry and pastoralist subsector.

3. Production and value chain promotion in the fishery and aquaculture subsector.

4. Production and value chain promotion in the forestry and environment subsector.

5. Food and nutrition security, resilience and social protection.

6. Promote good governance of the whole agriculture and natural resources sector.
The Gambia livestock master plan 49

Priority axes 1–4 include capacity building, youth employment and women’s empowerment, climate change
adaptation and regional trade promotion, while axis 6 includes institutional capacity, steering and coordination,
monitoring and evaluation, and communication.

Table 30: Estimated Gambia National Agricultural Investment Plan II (GNAIP II) costs by priority intervention areas

Cost
Strategic axis component %
(USD million)

Program 1: Production and value chain promotion on food crops and vegetable subsector 161.47 44.19

Program 2: Production and value chain promotion on livestock husbandry and pastoralist 59.48 16.28
subsector

Program 3: Production and value chain promotion on fisheries and aquaculture subsector 75.55 20.67

Program 4: Production and value chain promotion on forestry and environment subsector 9.13 2.5

Program 5: Food Security, nutrition, resilience and social protection 49.76 13.62

GNAIP II coordination, monitoring, and evaluation 10 2.74

Total base cost 365.42 100

Contingency – 5% 18.271 5

Total cost 374.22 102.41

The total budget of GNAIP II for 2019–2026 is estimated at USD 374.22 million, of which the base cost is
USD 356.40 million (Table 30). This budget comprises five main programs as well as GNAIP II coordination,
monitoring and evaluation. The budget allocated for the production and value chain promotion of livestock
husbandry and pastoralism is USD 59.48 million, which is about 16.69% of the total GNAIP II budget (Table 30)
and 135% of the Gambia LMP budget (Table 29). The principal livestock activities budgeted in GNAIP II and their
share within the total livestock budget are shown in Figure 12. Capacity building and extension, animal health, and
feed are allocated about 81% of the total livestock GNAIP II budget. This corresponds with the Gambia LMP budget
allocation, which has allocated about 82% of the budget to education and extension, animal health, and feed
improvements (Table 29).

Figure 12: The GNAIP II budget proportion for the main components of the livestock sector.
50 The Gambia livestock master plan

6.4 Budget of the Ministry of Agriculture and

Department of Livestock Services
The total recurrent budget allocated to the Ministry of Agriculture for the fiscal year 2022 was GMD 215 million,
out of which GMD 9.5 million (4.4%) was allocated to the DLS under the subheading of Livestock Production
and Productivity. However, the nomenclature of the subheading is misleading: almost the entire budget is for
administrative purposes, with the major expenditure items being travel expenses, maintenance of vehicles,
conferences and seminars, and purchases of fuel and lubricants.

A total of GMD 282,862 (or 1.2% of the entire development budget for the country) was allocated to the Ministry of
Agriculture for the fiscal year 2022 (Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs 2023).

The reason for the low levels of allocation of funds to the Ministry of Agriculture and its departments may be
attributable to the fact that most of the development and technical work they conduct is funded by projects, and the
funds are managed by the Central Projects Coordinating Unit (CPCU) of the Ministry of Agriculture.
7 References

Bahta, S., Nigussie, K., Loum, B., Gaye, F., Wanyoike, F. et al. 2022. The Gambia livestock sector analysis. ILRI
Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
Bahta, S., Wanyoike, F., Nigussie, K., Loum, B., Gaye, F., et al. 2023. The Gambia livestock sector strategy. ILRI
Project Report. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
DLS (Department of Livestock Services) and FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). 2022.
National animal feed balance sheet, 2019. Project report. In press. https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/FBS
DLS (Department of Livestock Services). 2020. 2019 Annual Activity Report. Banjul. The Gambia. https://hdl.handle.
net/10568/125968
FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), ICRISAT (International Crops Research Institute for
the Semi-Arid Tropics) and CIAT (International Center for Tropical Agriculture). 2018. Climate-smart agriculture in
the Gambia. CSA Country Profiles for Africa Series. Rome, Italy: FAO, ICRISAT and CIAT.
Government of the Gambia. 2019. The Gambia Second Generation National Agricultural Investment Plan – Food and
Nutrition Security (GNAIP II-FNS), 2019–2026. Banjul, the Gambia: Government of the Gambia.
IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). 2019. Republic of the Gambia Country Strategic
Opportunities Programme, 2019–2024. IFAD Executive Board Meeting – 126th Session, Rome, Italy, 2–3 May
2019.
IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development). 2022. The Gambia. Rome, Italy: IFAD. (Available from
https://ifad.org/en/web/operations/w/country/the-gambia) (Accessed 2 March 2023).
Loum, B. 2019. National Strategy and Action Plan for Animal Genetic Resources in the Gambia. Banjul, the Gambia:
Government of the Gambia.
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs. 2023. Estimates of revenue and expenditure 2023. Banjul, the Gambia:
Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs.
Olaniyan, O.F. 2017. Adapting Gambian women livestock farmers’ roles in food production to climate change.
Future of Food: Journal on Food, Agriculture and Society 5(2): 56–66.
Rich, K.M., Bahta, S., Wane, A., Wanyoike, F. and Baltenweck, I. 2020. Initial assessment report of the Gambian
livestock sector: A report to the Small Ruminant Production Enhancement Project (SRPEP) by the International
Livestock Research Institute in support of the Gambia’s livestock master plan. Nairobi, Kenya: ILRI.
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics. 2022. The 2020 Gambia Statistical Abstract. Banjul, the Gambia: The Gambia
Bureau of Statistics.
The Gambia National Livestock Census Report. 2016. Banjul, the Gambia: The Gambia National Livestock Census
Report.
Touray, O. 2016. Review of the livestock/meat and milk value chains and policy influencing them in the Gambia.
Abuja, Nigeria: FAO and ECOWAS

51
Annexes

52
 Annexe Table 1: Cattle production system – average productivity
parameter
Production zones/systems
Urban and
Cattle parameters Western Central Eastern
peri-urban dairy
N’Dama Zebu/Gobra N’Dama Zebu/Gobra N’Dama Zebu/Gobra Small
I. Age class structure (per cent)

Female Juvenile 9% 8% 9% 6% 9% 7% 14%

Sub-adult 22% 16% 23% 15% 22% 13% 19%
Adult 41% 36% 42% 28% 40% 30% 44%
Male Juvenile 9% 8% 9% 6% 9% 7% 12%
Sub-adult 12% 16% 11% 15% 13% 13% 3%
Adult 7% 15% 6% 30% 8% 30% 7%
II. Demography
Reproduction
Parturition rate (/year) 0.48 0.52 0.49 0.51 0.49 0.52 0.70
Rate of net prolificacy 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

% of females at birth 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Mortality (%)
Female Juvenile 16% 22% 16% 25% 17% 25% 10%
Sub-adult 6% 8% 6% 7% 6% 8% 5%
Adult 3% 5% 3% 4% 3% 6% 3%
Male Juvenile 16% 22% 16% 25% 17% 25% 10%
Sub-adult 6% 8% 6% 7% 6% 8% 5%
Adult 3% 5% 3% 5% 3% 6% 3%
Offtake (%)
Female Juvenile 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1%
Sub-adult 2% 0% 2% 0% 2% 0% 3%
Adult 3% 0% 3% 0% 3% 0% 8%

53
54
Production zones/systems
Urban and
Cattle parameters Western Central Eastern
peri-urban dairy
N’Dama Zebu/Gobra N’Dama Zebu/Gobra N’Dama Zebu/Gobra Small
Male Juvenile 10% 0% 12% 0% 8% 0% 30%
Sub-adult 15% 0% 20% 0% 10% 0% 60%
Adult 25% 0% 30% 0% 20% 0% 10%
III. Production
Live weight (kg/animal)
Female Juvenile 59 77 50 65 50 65 50
Sub-adult 155 200 150 195 150 195 120
Adult 225 293 215 270 208 280 250
Male Juvenile 62 81 52 68 52 68 65
Sub-adult 158 205 156 200 156 200 120
Adult 300 390 295 380 295 380 300
Meat
Dressing percentage (%) 47% 50% 47% 50% 47% 50% 50%
Financial price of offtake (/animal)
Female Juvenile 6,000 10,000 5,000 8,000 5,000 8,000 10,000
Sub-adult 20,000 33,000 18,000 30,000 18,000 30,000 33,000
Adult 20,000 33,000 18,000 30,000 18,000 30,000 33,000
Male Juvenile 7,000 12,000 6,000 10,000 6,000 10,000 12,000
Sub-adult 25,000 42,000 22,000 33,000 20,000 37,000 42,000
Adult 35,000 58,000 30,000 47,000 28,000 50,000 58,000
Milk (litres)
Length of milking period (days) 305 305 305 305 305 305 300
Milking quantity per day (litre/cow) 1.1 2.2 1.1 2.2 1.1 2.2 8.0
Production (litres) 335.50 671.00 335.50 671.00 335.50 671.00 2,400.00
 Annexe Table 2: Goat production system – average productivity parameter
Production zones/sub-systems

Goat parameters Western Central Eastern

Women-
Small (1–10) Small (1–10) Women-owned Small (1–10) Women-owned
owned

I. Age classes structure (%)

Female Juvenile 14% 14% 15% 15% 15% 15%

Sub-adult 14% 14% 15% 15% 15% 15%
Adult 44% 44% 47% 47% 47% 47%
Male Juvenile 13% 13% 14% 14% 14% 14%
Sub-adult 9% 9% 8% 8% 8% 8%
Adult 6% 6% 2% 2% 2% 2%
II. Demography
Reproduction
Parturition rate (/year) 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25
Rate of net prolificacy 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25

% of females at birth 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%

Mortality (%)
Female Juvenile 40% 40% 43% 43% 42% 42%
Sub-adult 15% 15% 15% 15% 16% 16%
Adult 9% 9% 9% 9% 6% 6%
Male
Juvenile 40% 3% 43% 42% 42% 42%
Sub-adult 15% 15% 15% 15% 16% 16%
Adult 9% 9% 9% 9% 6% 6%
Offtake (%)
Female Juvenile 2% 2% 2% 2% 2% 2%
Sub-adult 5% 5% 5% 5% 5% 5%
Adult 11% 11% 9% 9% 12% 12%

55
56
Production zones/sub-systems

Goat parameters Western Central Eastern

Women-
Small (1–10) Small (1–10) Women-owned Small (1–10) Women-owned
owned
Male Juvenile 15% 15% 16% 16% 15% 15%
Sub-adult 40% 40% 60% 60% 60% 60%
Adult 65% 65% 90% 90% 90% 90%
III. Production
Live weight (kg/animal)
Female Juvenile 5 5 5 5 5 5
Sub-adult 10 10 10 10 10 10
Adult 25 25 25 25 25 25
Male Juvenile 6 6 6 6 6 6
Sub-adult 12 12 12 12 12 12
Adult 20 20 20 20 20 20
Meat
Dressing percentage (%) 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55%
Financial price of off-taken (/animal)
Female Juvenile 2,500 2,500 1,700 1,700 2,500 2,500
Sub-adult 3,000 3,000 2,500 2,500 3,000 3,000
Adult 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000 3,000
Male Juvenile 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000 2,000
Sub-adult 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500 2,500
Adult 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,500 3,500
Milk (litres)
Length of milking period
(days) 127 127 127 127 127 127
Milking quantity per
day (litre/reproductive
female) 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1
Production (litres) 8.23 8.23 8.23 8.23 8.23 8.23
 Annexe Table 3: Five-year investment budget of cattle interventions
Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Feed

Demarcate, map and gazette grazing

areas and stock routes and establish 17,500 17,500 17,500 17,500 17,500 87,500 100% 0%
local conventions
Sensitize and train farmers on the
10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
prevention and control of bushfires
Construct access/slipways in areas
where riverbanks are high in the
Eastern production zone (20 @ Count 20 20,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 80,000 400,000 100% 0%
USD 20,000–30,000, constructing
4/year)
Construct boreholes for herd owners
Count 70 11,134 155,876 155,876 155,876 155,876 155,876 779,380 50% 50%
(total of 70 in 5 years)
Develop low-lying areas (manmade
and natural depressions) for water
harvesting (1 unit=10,000 m2
Count 40 40,000 320,000 320,000 320,000 320,000 320,000 1,600,000 70% 30%
and cost for dam liners=USD 3.1);
encourage development partners
(NGOs) to support this activity
Conduct media sensitization
campaigns on the harvesting of
Media
green feeds during the wet season ?? 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0
broadcasts
and conserving them for use in the
dry season
Conduct media sensitization
campaigns on the collection, Media
?? 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
preservation and utilization of locally broadcasts
produced crop resides

57
58
Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Improve the availability of dairy
farming professionals by increasing 50 diploma
Count 6,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 300,000 50% 50%
accessibility of long-term training (50 holders
Diploma holders)
Provide long-term financial loans for
commercial dairy farms to establish 35,000/
Count 30 farmers 210,000 210,000 210,000 210,000 210,000 1,050,000 70% 30%
and operate (government to provide farmer
30% guarantee fund to the banks)
Support the establishment of a
fodder and fodder seed producers’
association (covering some of the association 1 5,000 0 0 5,000 0 0 0 100% 0
operational cost for the first 2 years
plus capacity building)
Animal Health
Increase vaccination coverage
against CBPP from the current 75% to
% of cattle 5% more
about 80% in the coming five years 0.64 18,551 18,949 19,355 19,770 20,194 96,819 0% 100%
vaccinated cattle
and keep it constant until the end of
2037 (vaccination twice each year)

Increase vaccination coverage

% of cattle
against HS, BQ and LSD from the 30% ?? 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 30,000 150,000 0% 100%
vaccinated
current rate to about 30%

Maintain vaccination coverage

against CBPP, HS, BQ, LSD and
100% of
anthrax and chemoprophylaxis % of cattle
the herd in
against tick-borne and blood- vaccinated/ ?? 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 100,000 0% 100%
commercial
parasitic infectious diseases at the treated
farms
current rate of about full coverage in
commercial farms
Increase the coverage of external
30% cattle for
parasite treatment to 30% of herds up
% of cattle ectoparasite
from the baseline rate of 15%, and the ?? 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 0% 100%
treated and 45% for
coverage of endoparasite treatment
endoparasite
to 40% up from 25%
 Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Strengthen the Veterinary Council to
enable it to effectively monitor and Veterinary Varies by
1 50,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 130,000 100% 0%
regulate the importation, distribution Council year
and use of veterinary drugs
Strengthen the Livestock Training
School of The Gambia College of
Livestock Varies by
Agriculture through capacity building 1 30,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 110,000 100% 0
Training School year
of trainers and provision of materials
and equipment
Curriculum used
Revise the current curriculum used to
to train livestock 1 30,000 30,000 30,000 100% 0
train livestock technicians
technicians
Train veterinarians and livestock
Number of
technicians to scale up their capacity
veterinarians/
and increase their contribution to ?? ?? 20,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 60,000 100 0
livestock
the improvement of extension and
technicians
veterinary service delivery.
Number of vet
Establish an additional 5 veterinary
pharmacies/
pharmacies and drug outlets in the 5 40,000 50,000 50,000 50,000 25,000 25,000 200,000 30% 70%
drug outlets
regions
established
Strengthen the existing 6 regional
Count of
veterinary stations through
veterinary 6 Varies 1,200,000 840,000 600,000 600,000 600,000 3,840,000 100% 0
infrastructure improvement and
stations
provision of equipment
Improve infrastructure, provide
Count of
equipment and hire personnel for
veterinary sub- 53 Varies 530,000 530,000 530,000 530,000 530,000 2,650,000 100% 0
the open positions in the 53 existing
stations
veterinary sub-stations
Number of
Establish 10 new veterinary sub-
veterinary sub- 10 100,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 200,000 1,000,000 100% 0
stations in the 5 years
stations

59
60
Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Strengthen the disease surveillance
Number of staff
and monitoring system by improving ?? 15,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 55,000 100% 0
trained
staff capacity through training
Build the capacity of the 82 existing Count of 82 existing
Varies by
sanitary defence committees and sanitary defence and 38 15,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 55,000 100% 0%
year
raise their number to 120 committees additional
Improve the capacity of the existing
Count of
6 Regional Veterinary Laboratories
Regional 3,840,000
through infrastructure improvement, 6 varies 1,200,000 840,000 600,000 600,000 600,000 100% 0%
Veterinary
provision of equipment, staffing and
Laboratories
staff capacity development
Genetic improvement
Produce a cattle breeding policy for
Breeding policy 1 20,000 20,000 0 0 0 0 20,000 100% 0%
the Gambia
Sensitize herd owners on the
selection and retention of good
breeding bulls and heifers in local
% of herd owners 60% ?? 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 50% 50%
herds and castration, fattening and
sale of unproductive males including
animals with defects
Expand the N’Dama breeding
program being conducted by the
% of farmers
West Africa Livestock Innovation
with access to
Centre (WALIC); produce and
elite N’Dama 5% ?? 125,000 125,000 50,000 0 0 300,000 100% 0%
distribute elite breeding bulls
breeding bull/
to farmers through the Gambia
semen
Indigenous Livestock Multipliers
Association (GILMA)
 Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Strengthen the capacity of WALIC
by coordinating and facilitating
funds for the construction of more
barns, purchase of more animals
and improved research and training
Varies by
facilities; provide enhanced WALIC 1 300,000 150,000 150,000 175,000 200,000 975,000 100% 0%
year
laboratory and storage facilities
and equipment to expand the
laboratories’ capacity to include
handling of breeding materials and
activities
Construct one artificial insemination
(AI) centre that will produce semen
AI centre 1 587,000 0 375,000 87,000 50,000 75,000 587,000 100% 0%
straws from elite N’Dama bulls and
exotic/exotic-cross breed bulls
Construct one liquid nitrogen storage Liquid nitrogen
1 597,971 298,986 298,986 0 0 0 597,971 50% 50%
facility within 5 years storage facility
Count of AI
Train and equip 100 AI technicians 100 1,250 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 25,000 125,000 100% 0%
technicians
Subsidize private AI service providers Count of AI
to help them expand their AI service private service 0 100,000 150,000 175,000 175,000 600,000 100% 0%
to more livestock producers providers
Education, research and extension services
Develop livestock extension policy,
guidelines and legal framework for Documents 2 15,000 30,000 0 0 0 0 30,000 100% 0%
extension services
Strengthen the capacities of the
livestock research section of the
National Agricultural Research
Institute (NARI) by improving the Varies by
NARI 1 440,000 190,000 140,000 100,000 100,000 970,000 100% 0%
research facilities and staffing with year
livestock researchers and scientists
to make it able to conduct livestock
research

61
62
Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Coordinate and facilitate the
provision of financial support,
necessary equipment and training
N/A 1,460,875 876,525 292,176 146,088 146,088 2,921,751 100% 0%
opportunities to the staff of WALIC to
expand its local cattle improvement
program and other research
Strengthen public livestock extension
N/A 1,230,000 170,000 170,000 170,000 170,000 1,910,000 100% 0%
service delivery in terms of mobility
Strengthen the Department of
Livestock Services (DLS) and
other stakeholders’ livestock
data collection tasks by providing
N/A 50,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 90,000 100% 0%
appliances and gadgets, capacity
building and training on data
collection (methods and tools) and
analysis

Provide incentives, career

progression opportunities and
scholarships to the staff at NARI, N/A 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 2,500,000 100% 0%
WALIC and DLS to improve their
retention

Count of training
Upgrade the 4 training centres and 4
centres and 4 training
demonstration units for full capacity Various 738,460 318,460 318,460 318,460 318,460 2,012,300 100% 0%
demonstration centres and 4
utilization
units

Promote private veterinary and

extension service providers by
Count of
subsidizing veterinary and livestock
veterinary
experts to establish veterinary 2,200,000 50% 50%
pharmacies and 2,000,000 200,000 0 0 0
pharmacies and input shops that can
input shops
provide farmers with veterinary and
extension services
 Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Support the emergence of private Count of private

livestock extension service providers livestock
1,500,000 300,000 0 0 0 1,800,000 50% 50%
by subsidizing private extension extension service
service providers providers

Increase the number of farmers who

receive intensive and continuous
cattle improvement training (training,
Count of farmers 3,000 25 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0%
exchange visits, farmer advisory
services, practical demonstrations)
to 3,000
Marketing
Achieve marketing infrastructure
improvements in 10 primary (Sare
Ngai, Sare Bojo, Brikamaba, Wasu,
Jareng, Samitenda, Farafeni, Bureng,
Kerr Pateh, Ndugukebbeh, Fass
10 primary
Njaga Choi, Panchang) and 2
markets and Varies by
terminal markets (Abuko, Brikama) Count of markets 0 388,772 388,772 388,772 388,772 1,555,088
2 terminal market
including fencing of holding grounds
markets
and provision of watering facilitates,
sheds, office, toilets, loading ramps,
slaughter slabs, meat stalls, cold
storage facilities and weighing scales
within 5 years
Strengthen the newly established
livestock market information system N/A 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0%
and sensitize users about it
Subsidize cooperatives to re-
introduce specialized vehicles for
the transportation of live animals and
N/A 240,000 0 0 0 0 240,000 100% 0%
animal products and enforce the use
of refrigerated transport facilities for
meat transportation

63
64
Budget
source
Unit and/or Quantity or Unit cost Investment cost in USD and
Investment intervention amount
capacity number in USD
in %
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Count of
Perform capacity building for
livestock market
livestock market management 12 4,167 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
management
committees
committees
Support the establishment of at least
one marketing cooperative for each Count of
of the different commodities (dairy, marketing 3 25,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0%
live animals and meat, poultry) within cooperatives
5 years
Number of
Encourage private actors ready to
small-scale milk
establish small-scale milk processing 5 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 100,000 0% 100%
processing
plants
plants launched
Support private actors to establish Number of
2 50,000 0 50,000 0 0 50,000 100,000 0% 100%
modern abattoirs modern abattoirs
Number of
Modernize the existing
slaughterhouses 12 16,500 0 0 0 0 198,000 0% 100%
slaughterhouses 198,000
modernized
Establish a tannery 0 0 50,000 0 0 50,000 0% 100%

Total annual budget 13,538,248 7,650,067 5,424,139 5,131,466 5,226,889 85% 15%
36,970,809
 Annexe Table 4: Activity timeline and sequencing of cattle interventions:
Gantt chart
Activities timeline
S/No Investment intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Feed and feeding

1 Review the existing forest regulations/acts within three years to make them accommodative of the pasturelands,
rangelands and forests and their sustainable utilization as a source of livestock feed.
The Ministry of Agriculture should engage other relevant stakeholders (such as the Ministries of Local Government
and Lands, Justice, Forestry and the Environment and Parks and Wild Life, Civil Society and Community Leaders) to
2
update the Land Use Plan, taking into consideration the urgent needs of the agriculture and livestock sector in the
country.
3 Demarcate, map and gazette grazing areas and stock routes within the first 4 years of the livestock sector strategy.
4 Sensitize and train farmers on the prevention and control of bushfires.
5 Promote regeneration of degraded rangelands.
6 Over-sow palatable feed species, including Adropogon gayanus, Panicum and Brachiaria species.
7 Construct access/slipways to rivers in 20 of the areas that currently have low access to animals.
8 Construct 70 boreholes with the contribution of herd owners.
9 Develop 40 low-lying areas and improve the harvesting of water.
Plant fodder tree species such as Pterocarpus erinaceus, Leucocefala, Acacia albida and Leucaena in community
10
forest parks and rangelands and around boreholes and slipways.
Sensitize farmers to grow fodder and fodder trees as fences and hedges in the backyard and other areas to
11
supplement cattle and enhance feed availability during the dry season.
Sensitize farmers to supplement lactating cows with additional locally available concentrate feeds, salt and mineral
12 licks. It is targeted to raise the proportion of cattle farmers that supplement their lactating cows with some form of
concentrate feed to 50% by the end of 5 years.
Sensitize the use of leguminous plants, e.g. Pterocarpus erinaceous, Acacia albida (Faidherbia albida) and Cajanus
13
cajan.
Liaise with the National Seed Secretariat (NSS) to have a strong fodder seed quality regulatory department within the
14
NSS.
15 Sensitize farmers to harvest green feeds during the wet season and conserve them for use in the dry season.
16 Sensitize farmers in collecting, preserving and utilizing locally produced crop resides.
Improve the availability of dairy farming and milk processing professionals by increasing the accessibility of long-
17

65
term training on dairying and milk processing.
66
Activities timeline
S/No Investment intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
18 Limit the export of processed feed ingredients and have a concessional supply for local livestock producers.
Facilitate financial provision and long-term loan payment schemes to commercial operators who want to establish
19
and operate dairy farms.
Support the establishment of a fodder and fodder seed producers’ association by covering some of their operational
20
costs for the first 2 years and providing training.
21 Improve the linkages between associations in the Gambia and other countries like Mali and Senegal.
Animal Health
Vaccinate cattle for priority diseases like CBPP, HS, BQ and LSD. The vaccine coverage of CBPP is targeted to
1 increase from the current coverage of about 75% to about 80% in the coming 5 years. The percentage of cattle
vaccinated against HS, BQ and LSD is targeted to increase from the current coverage of about null to 30% in 5 years.
In commercial dairy farms, continue vaccination of cattle against CBPP, HS, BQ, LSD and Anthrax and
2 chemoprophylaxis against tick-borne and blood parasitic infectious diseases at the current rate of about full
coverage.

Raise the level of external and internal parasite treatment practices among N’Dama cattle owners from the current
3 rates of 15% and 25%, respectively, using anti-parasite chemicals and anthelmintics. It is targeted to increase the rate
of anti-parasite treatment to 30% and anthelmintic use to 40% by the end of 5 years.
Strengthen the Veterinary Council within 4 years to make it able to effectively monitor and regulate the importation,
4
distribution and use of veterinary drugs.
5 Ensure the availability of sufficient vaccines and medicines in the country.
Strengthen the Livestock Training School of the Gambia College of Agriculture through capacity building of trainers
6 and provision of teaching materials, equipment, and protective clothing for trainees, and provide laboratories and
practical facilities and equipment throughout the livestock master plan duration.
7 Revise the current curriculum used to train livestock technicians within 2 years.
Train veterinarians and livestock technicians to scale up their capacity and increase their contribution to the
8
improvement of extension and veterinary service delivery.
9 Establish an additional 5 veterinary pharmacies and drug outlets in the regions during the 5 years.
Strengthen the 6 existing regional veterinary stations by improving the infrastructures and providing equipment
10
within 5 years.
Improve infrastructure, provide equipment and hire experts to open positions for the 53 existing veterinary sub-
11
stations.
12 Establish 53 new veterinary sub-stations (one more for every district) within 5 years.
13 Strengthen the disease surveillance system by improving staff capacity with training and the monitoring system.
 Activities timeline
S/No Investment intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

14 Build the capacity of the current 82 farmers’ sanitary defence committees and raise their number to 120 by the end of
the 5 years.
Improve the capacity of the existing 6 Regional Veterinary Laboratories in the coming 5 years by improving
15
infrastructure, equipment, staffing and staff capacity.
Improve the facilities and train laboratory technologists and technicians of the Central Veterinary Laboratory at
16
Abuko.
Genetic improvement
1 Produce cattle breeding policy within 2 years.
Sensitize herd owners on the selection and retention of good breeding bulls and heifers in the local herd. It is
2
targeted to sensitize 60% of livestock farmers by the end of 5 years.
Expand the N’Dama breeding program being conducted by the West Africa Livestock Innovation Centre (WALIC)
to produce and distribute elite bulls to farmers through the Gambia Indigenous Livestock Multipliers Association
3
(GILMA). It is targeted that 5% of cattle farmers in the country will have access to elite N’Dama breeding bulls/semen
by the end of 5 years.
Strengthen the capacity of WALIC by coordinating and facilitating funds for the construction of more barns, the
purchase of more animals, and improved research and training facilities. Also, it is equally essential to provide
4
enhanced laboratory and storage facilities and equipment to expand the laboratories’ capacity to include handling
breeding materials and activities.
Construct an artificial insemination (AI) centre within 5 years. AI centres will produce semen straws from elite
5
N’Dama bulls and exotic/exotic-cross breed bulls.
6 Construct a liquid nitrogen storage facility within 5 years.
7 Train AI technicians. It is targeted to train 100 AI technicians within 5 years.
8 Subsidize private AI service providers to help them expand their AI service to more livestock producers.
Education, research and extension services
1 Develop livestock extension policy, guidelines and legal framework for extension services within 3 years.
Strengthen the capacities of the livestock research section of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) by
improving the research facilities and staffing with livestock researchers and scientists to make it able to conduct
2
livestock research. The research institute must also collaborate with other research institutions like WALIC and others
in the subregion.
Coordinate and facilitate the provision of financial support, the necessary equipment, and training opportunities to
3
the staff of WALIC to expand its local cattle improvement program and other research.
4 Ameliorate mobility of the public extension service providers.

67
68
Activities timeline
S/No Investment intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
Strengthen the Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and other stakeholders’ livestock data collection tasks by
5 providing appliances and gadgets, in addition to capacity building and training on data collection (methods and
tools) and analysis.

6 Improve the staff retention of NARI, WALIC and DLS through incentives, career progression opportunities and
scholarships.
7 Upgrade the existing training centres and demonstration units and utilize them to full capacity.
Improve the 53 existing veterinary sub-stations by improving their infrastructure, equipment and staffing, and
8
construct an additional 53 veterinary sub-stations (one for every district) within 5 years.

9 Promote private veterinary and extension service providers by subsidizing veterinary and livestock experts to
establish veterinary pharmacies and input shops that can provide farmers with veterinary and extension services.
10 Support and subsidize private extension service provider startups.

11 Ensure the public sector will regulate the private veterinarians and extension service providers and continue
researching and providing public veterinary and extension services.
Pursue collaboration between NARI, the University of the Gambia and other stakeholders in the livestock sector to
12
ensure that training at the Faculty of Science produces graduates with skills that NARI and the country need.
13 Promote adaptive research on the exotic breed and milk improvement along the value chain.
Increase the number of farmers that receive intensive and continuous cattle improvement training (training,
14
exchange visits, farmer advisory services, practical demonstrations) to 50% by the end of 5 years.
Marketing investments
Upgrade 2 terminals and 10 primary markets by fencing holding grounds and providing watering facilitates, sheds,
1
offices, toilets, loading ramps, slaughter slabs, meat stalls and cold storage facilities within 5 years.
2 Strengthen the livestock market information system newly established by GILMA and sensitize users about it.
3 Subsidize cooperatives to introduce specialized vehicles for the transportation of live animals and animal products.
4 Perform capacity building for market management committees.
Support the establishment of marketing cooperatives for each of the different commodities (dairy, live animals and
5
meat, layers, broilers, and free-range chickens) within 5 years.
6 Support cooperatives to improve the system of collection, transportation and processing of livestock products.
Encourage and subsidize private actors to enable them to establish small-scale milk processing plants. It targeted
7
that 5 small-scale milk processing plants will be established in 5 years.
8 Promote private actors to establish 2 modern abattoirs within 5 years.
 Activities timeline
S/No Investment intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

9 Support commercial dairy farms to enable an increase in their number in the Gambia. It is targeted that about 40
additional commercial dairy farms (with a current farm size of about 65 animals) will be established in 5 years.
10 Modernize the 10 existing slaughterhouses in 5 years.
11 Establish a tannery.

69
70
Annexe Table 5: Five-year investment budget of small ruminant
improvement interventions
Unit Budget source and
Investment cost in USD
Unit and/or Quantity or cost amount in %
Investment intervention
capacity number in
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Feed
Plant fodder trees (Pterocarpus
erinaceus, Leucocefala,
Acacia albida and Leucaena)
in community forest parks and N/A 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 50% 50%
rangelands, around boreholes
and slipways and in the
backyards of farmers
% of farmers with Increase in
Promote the construction of
small houses for percentage from 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0
small houses for small ruminants
sheep and goats 30% to 40%
Sensitize farmers to grow
fodders and fodder trees as
fences and hedges in backyards
Sheep and goats
and other areas to supplement 100% 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0
producers
sheep and goats and enhance
feed availability during the dry
season
Train farmers (50% of
beneficiaries being women
and youth) in the collection,
preservation and enhancement Sheep and goats
100% 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0
of crop residues such as producers
groundnut hay, maize stover,
rice, millet bran, groundnut,
sesame cake and cotton seeds
 Unit Budget source and
Investment cost in USD
Unit and/or Quantity or cost amount in %
Investment intervention
capacity number in
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Train commercial sheep and

goat farmers to establish
intensive feed gardens (starting
from 625 m2) using fodder Sheep and goats
100% 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
legumes such as Cajanus cajan, producers
Leucaena, Moringa and other
palatable species in the forested
areas
Provide a 40% subsidy of the New commercial
cost of the establishment of sheep and goat
commercial sheep and goat farms that practice 100% 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 60,000 300,000 40% 60%
farms that practice zero-grazing zero-grazing
schemes schemes

Animal Health (Note: The health service improvement interventions listed under the cattle intervention section also cater to sheep and goats. To avoid repetition, the list of health interventions
in the cattle section is not listed again here.)

Conduct routine mass

% of animals
vaccinations against PPR and 80% 22,123 22,123 22,123 22,123 22,123 110,616 100% 0%
vaccinated
pasteurellosis
Conduct routine deworming % of animals
60% 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 25,000 100% 0%
campaigns dewormed

Genetic improvement

Develop a breeding policy for

sheep and goats in the coming 20,000 0 0 0 0 20,000 100% 0%
3 years

Provide matching grants of

USD 2,000 to the seed capital
in the establishment of private New private
breeding farms which will 100% 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 100,000 100% 0%
breeding farms
undertake developing new
and improving existing breeds,
multiplication and distribution

71
72
Unit Budget source and
Investment cost in USD
Unit and/or Quantity or cost amount in %
Investment intervention
capacity number in
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Support the formation of a N/A 0 0 20,345 0 0 20,345 100% 0%

community-based local sheep
and goat breed improvement
scheme
Sensitize small ruminant owners
on the culling of unproductive
Small ruminant
animals and the selection and 100% 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 15,000 75,000 100% 0%
owners
retaining of good breeding rams
and bucks in the flock
Strengthen the existing local N/A 30,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 70,000 100% 0%
breed improvement research
being carried out by the West
African Livestock Innovation
Centre (WALIC) by providing
adequate resources for
purchasing additional rams/
ewes, livestock technician
training, Geneticists and
equipment
Strengthen livestock farmers’ Livestock farmers’ 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
associations such as the Gambia associations
Indigenous Livestock Multipliers
Association (GILMA)
Marketing

Form and build the capacity Small ruminant 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
of small ruminant owners’ owners’
cooperatives and introduce cooperatives
weighing scales to facilitate the
marketing of sheep and goats
Improve the infrastructure at the N/A 40,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 80,000 100% 0%
veterinary stations in Yorro Beri
Kunda, Sololo and Basse
 Unit Budget source and
Investment cost in USD
Unit and/or Quantity or cost amount in %
Investment intervention
capacity number in
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Construct 5 slaughterhouses Count of 5 slaughterhouses varies 64,877 64,877 64,877 64,877 64,877 324,385 0 100%
and 5 modern meat stalls slaughterhouses and 5 modern
and modern meat meat stalls
stalls
Overall budget 362,000 292,000 312,345 292,000 292,000 1,530,001

73
74
Annexe Table 6: Sheep production system – average productivity
parameters
Production zones/sub-systems
Western Central Eastern
Sheep parameters Women Women
Women owned
Djallonke Sahelian Djallonke Sahelian owned Djallonke Sahelian owned
(Djallonke)
(Djallonke) (Djallonke)
I. Age classes length (months)
Female Juvenile 9% 14% 9% 11% 15% 11% 9% 16% 9%
Sub-adult 13% 9% 13% 13% 8% 13% 13% 10% 13%

Adult 41% 39% 41% 51% 45% 51% 41% 47% 41%

Male Juvenile 9% 14% 9% 10% 14% 10% 9% 15% 9%

Sub-adult 11% 8% 11% 10% 7% 10% 12% 7% 12%

Adult 16% 17% 16% 4% 11% 4% 16% 4% 16%

II. Demography
Reproduction
Parturition rate (/year) 0.95 1.50 0.95 0.95 1.50 0.95 0.95 1.50 0.95
Rate of net prolificacy 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.1

% of females at birth 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50% 50%
Mortality (%)
Female Juvenile 30% 32% 30% 39% 44% 39% 27% 36% 27%
Sub-adult 27% 29% 27% 35% 41% 35% 24% 32% 24%

Adult 7% 7% 7% 9% 10% 9% 6% 8% 6%
Male Juvenile 30% 32% 30% 40% 44% 40% 27% 36% 27%
Sub-adult 27% 29% 27% 37% 41% 37% 24% 32% 24%

Adult 7% 7% 7% 9% 10% 9% 6% 8% 6%
 Production zones/sub-systems
Western Central Eastern
Sheep parameters Women Women
Women owned
Djallonke Sahelian Djallonke Sahelian owned Djallonke Sahelian owned
(Djallonke)
(Djallonke) (Djallonke)
Offtake (%)
Female Juvenile 0% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0% 1% 3% 1%
Sub-adult 5% 9% 5% 0% 3% 0% 7% 7% 7%

Adult 8% 17% 8% 0% 5% 0% 11% 14% 11%

Male Juvenile 5% 5% 5% 8% 5% 8% 3% 13% 3%
Sub-adult 15% 18% 15% 30% 15% 30% 15% 40% 15%

Adult 20% 25% 20% 70% 35% 70% 30% 80% 30%
III. Production
Live weight (kg/animal)
Female Juvenile 5 8 5 5 8 5 5 8 5
Sub-adult 10 15 10 10 15 10 10 15 10

Adult 22 35 22 22 35 22 22 35 22
Male Juvenile 8 10 8 8 10 8 8 10 8
Sub-adult 15 20 15 15 20 15 15 20 15

Adult 35 40 35 35 40 35 35 40 35
Meat
Dressing percentage (%) 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55% 55%
Financial price of off-taken
(/animal)
Female Juvenile 3,500 5,000 3,500 3,000 4,000 3,000 2,800 4,000 2,800
Sub-adult 5,500 6,500 5,500 5,000 6,000 5,000 4,800 6,000 4,800

Adult 6,500 7,000 6,500 6,000 6,000 6,000 5,800 6,000 5,800

75
76
Production zones/sub-systems
Western Central Eastern
Sheep parameters Women Women
Women owned
Djallonke Sahelian Djallonke Sahelian owned Djallonke Sahelian owned
(Djallonke)
(Djallonke) (Djallonke)
Male Juvenile 3,500 5,000 3,500 3,000 4,000 3,000 2,800 4,000 2,800
Sub-adult 5,500 7,500 5,500 5,000 6,000 5,000 4,800 6,000 4,800

Adult 6,500 12,000 6,500 6,000 10,000 6,000 5,800 10,000 5,800
 Annexe Table 7: Activities timeline and sequencing: Gantt chart
Activities timeline
S/No Investment Intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Feed and feeding

Sensitize farmers to grow fodders and fodder trees as fences and hedges in the backyard and other areas to supplement sheep and
1
goats and enhance feed availability during the dry season

Promote and train farmers in the collection, preservation, and enhancement of crop residues such as groundnut hay, maize stovers,
2
rice, millet bran, groundnut, sesame cake, and cotton seeds

Encourage intensive sheep and goat farms to establish intensive feed gardens (starting from 625m2) through the use of fodder
3
legumes such as Cajanus Cajan, Leucaena, Moringa, and other palatable species on the forested areas

4 Encourage commercial sheep and goat farms that practice zero-grazing schemes by providing a 40% subsidy
Improve availability and access to agricultural byproducts (cakes, bran, etc.) and raise awareness of the importance of the
5
byproducts of cottage edible oil industries for the livestock sector

Train farmers on the construction of small houses for small ruminants. Farmers can construct these houses using locally available
6
materials. Providing farmers with manuals on how to construct these small sheep and goat houses can speed up adoption.

Animal Health

Conduct routine mass vaccinations against PPR and Pasteurellosis. It is targeted to raise the percentage of sheep and goats
1
vaccinated to 80% by the end of five years of the LMP period (2027).

Conduct routine Deworming campaigns. It is targeted to raise the percentage of sheep and goats covered under the routine
2
deworming campaign to 60% by the end of the five years (2027).

Genetic improvement
1 Develop a breeding policy for sheep and goats in the coming three years.

Provide matching grants of US$2000 to the seed capital in the establishment of private breeding farms which will undertake
2
developing new and improving existing sheep and goat breeds, and perform multiplication and distribution of the breeds.

3 Encourage commercial sheep and goat farms that practice zero-grazing schemes by providing a 40% subsidy.
4 Start one community-based local sheep and goat breed improvement scheme
Sensitize small ruminant owners on the culling of unproductive animals, selection and retaining good breeding rams and bucks in
5
the flock.

77
78
Activities timeline
S/No Investment Intervention
2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Strengthen the existing local breed improvement research being carried out by WALIC by providing adequate resources for
6
purchasing additional rams/ewes, and training livestock technicians, geneticists, and equipment.

7 Strengthen livestock farmers’ associations such as GILMA.

Education, Research and Extension services

Coordinate and facilitate the provision of financial support, training opportunities, and the necessary equipment for WALIC to
1
expand its local sheep and goat improvement program.

Provide farmers with intensive and consistent training on improved sheep and goat management practices. The proportion of
2
farmers getting intensive and consistent training will reach 50% by the end of the LMP period (2027).

Marketing Investments

Construct adequate marketing facilities at the level of the weekly markets at Sare Ngai, Sare Bojo, Brikamaba, Wasu, Jareng,
1 Samitenda, Farafeni, Bureng, Kerr pateh, Ndugukebbeh, Fass Njaga Choi, Panchang with fencing livestock holding ground,
watering facilities, sheds, toilets and loading rams.

2 Form small ruminant owner’s cooperatives and introduction of weighing scales to facilitate the marketing of sheep and goats.

3 Improve the infrastructure at the veterinary stations in Yorro Beri Kunda (YBK), Sololo, and Basse.
4 Construct two more terminal markets in the coming five years.

Promote the use of appropriate transportation facilities for animals from primary to terminal markets and enforce the use of
5
refrigerated transport facilities for meat transportation.

6 Perform a feasibility study for the construction of a tannery and assess the potential market for processed hides and skins.
 Annexe Table 8: Production and reproduction parameters of backyard
indigenous chickens
Parameters Values

Average number of hens 2.2

Average number of cocks 0.6

Age of hens at the start of the laying period (months) 6.0

Duration of the laying period (months) 30

Age of layers at culling (months) 36.0

Age of cocks at culling (months) 48

Adult mortality (% per year) 42%

Number of eggs laid hen/year 60

Eggs sold or consumed on-farm (% eggs laid) 0.5

Eggs available for incubation 66

Egg fertility (%) 67%

Males hatched/year 22.1

Females hatched/year 22.1

Mortality in livestock production (% of birds that die before marketing) 60%

Age of males when sold (months) 4.0

Males raised/year 8.8

Females raised/year 8.8

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Parameters Values

Hens culled/year 0.8

Cocks culled/year 0.2

Number of females to keep for replacement/year 1.4

Number of males to keep for replacement/year 0.0

Males sold or consumed on-farm/year 8.8

Females sold or consumed on-farm/year 7.5

Average live weight of chickens (growers) sold (kg) 1.0

Average live weight of culled hens (kg) 1.2

Average live weight of culled cocks (kg) 1.5

Average dressing percentage 65%

Total number of birds present per hen 7.1

Total number of birds sold or consumed on-farm/year 17.2

Average live weight of birds sold or consumed on-farm 1.0

Animals sold or consumed on-farm/year/hens 7.84

Source: LSIPT database

 Annexe Table 9: Five-year investment budget of chicken meat and egg
production improvement interventions
Unit Budget source
Unit and/or Quantity or Investment cost in USD
Investment intervention cost in and amount in %
capacity number
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private

Feed

Enact regulations and acts that discourage

the export of brans and oil seed cakes N/A 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 0 40,000 100% 0%
outside the country
Sensitize and train farmers on the utilization
of bran and oil seed cakes as feed for % of farmers 100% 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
backyard chickens
Develop backyard chicken ration formulas
based on the locally available feed bases,
N/A 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 50,000 100% 0%
and sensitize farmers on how to do the
formulations and feeding
Encourage contracting of cereal farmers to
produce feed ingredients for feed millers matchmaking
15,000 15,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 60,000 70% 30%
and processors by holding matchmaking events
events
Encourage farmers to grow soybean for use
N/A 50,000 0 0 50,000 0 100% 0%
as a chicken feed ingredient 100,000
Strengthen the Food Safety and Quality
Authority (FSQA) to increase its capacity
N/A 60,000 45,000 0 0 0 105,000 30% 70%
to regulate the quality of feeds and feed
ingredients
Prepare commercial chicken feed quality feed quality
1 20,000 0 20,000 0 0 0 20,000 100% 0%
standards within 2 years standards
Establish silos for both imported and locally
Number
produced chicken feed raw materials and
of silos 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 0 60,000 20% 80%
processed chicken feeds through public–
established
private partnership

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Unit Budget source
Unit and/or Quantity or Investment cost in USD
Investment intervention cost in and amount in %
capacity number
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Increase the utilized capacity of the 5
existing commercial chicken feed mills and commercial 5 existing mills
support the establishment of 5–10 new chicken feed and 5–10 new varies 0 0 200,000 200,000 100,000 500,000 0% 100%
chicken feed mills through the waiver of mills ones
sales tax on equipment and raw inputs
Train and empower farmer organizations to Poultry farmer
100% 5,000 5,000 0 0 0 10,000 100% 0%
be aware of the indicators of feed quality organizations
Conduct additional research on alternative
N/A 25,000 25,000 0 0 50,000 100% 0%
feed ingredient 0
Animal health (Note: The health service improvement interventions listed under the cattle intervention section also cater to different livestock species. To avoid repetition, the list of health
interventions in the cattle section that also cater to chickens is not listed again here.)
Increase the number of vaccinated
backyard chickens against Newcastle
% of chickens 56.4% increase 130,756 130,756 130,756 130,756 130,756 653,779 0 100%
disease and fowl pox to 65%, up from 8.6%
(86,600 chickens)
Support adoption of the practice of
applying internal and external parasite % of chickens 65% increase 111,717 236,073 436,495 658,835 904,931 2,348,051 0 100%
treatments by 65%, up from about null
Count of
Training farmers and traders on biosecurity farmers and 10,000 10,000 10,000 0 0 30,000 100% 0%
measures traders
Sensitize local chicken farmers to vaccinate
all their birds against Newcastle disease,
Local farmers 100% 15,000 15,000 15,000 0 0 45,000 100% 0%
gumboro, fowl pox and Marek’s disease to
mitigate the risk of cross infections
Genetic improvement
local chicken
Develop a local chicken breeding policy in breeding 1 20,000 20,000 0 0 0 20,000 100% 0%
the coming 2 years policy
Local chicken
Start a local chicken breed improvement breed
1 60,000 20,000 20,000 20,000 0 0 60,000 100% 0%
program in the coming 3 years through the improvement
distribution of improved local cocks program
Subsidize the establishment of a chicken parent
1 30,000 20,000 10,000 0 0 0 30,000 40% 60%
commercial chicken parent stock farm stock farm
 Unit Budget source
Unit and/or Quantity or Investment cost in USD
Investment intervention cost in and amount in %
capacity number
USD 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 Total Public Private
Increase the number of hatcheries and
hatchery capacity to meet the expected
annual day-old chick demand of about N/A 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 150,000 750,000 0 100%
4 million (about 3.8 million broilers and
200,000 layers) by the end of year 5
Education, research and extension services (Note: The extension and research improvement interventions listed under the cattle intervention section also cater to different livestock species.
To avoid repetition, the list of extension and research interventions in the cattle section that also cater to chickens will not be listed here.)
Increase the number of farmers that
receive intensive and continuous chicken Proportion
improvement training (training, exchange of number of 50% 10,000 10,000 0 0 10,000 30,000 100% 0%
visits, farmer advisory services, practical farmers
demonstrations) to 50%
Develop training manuals in the coming 2
Training
years and encourage farmers to engage in 10,000 10,000 0 0 0 20,000 100% 0%
manuals
the commercial production of local chicken

Marketing investments
Establish local chicken producers’ Farmer 1 cooperative varies 15,000 15,000 0 0 0 30,000 40% 60%
cooperatives and a federation cooperatives; per production
Farmer system and
federation 1 farmer
federation
Address the problem of unfair competition N/A 10,000 10,000 10,000 10,000 0 40,000 40% 60%
from imported poultry products by
developing the appropriate acts and
regulations
Promote the establishment of cold storage N/A 120,000 120,000 120,000 120,000 120,000 600,000 40% 60%
and purchase of cold transportation
facilities by subsidizing the private sector
Promote and support the formation of Commercial 10,000 10,000 0 0 0 20,000 100%
commercial chicken producer groups/ chicken
associations, and strengthen the existing producer
commercial feed producers’ association groups/
associations
Overall budget 842,473 881,828 1,142,251 1,359,591 1,445,687 5,671,830

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Annexe Table 10: Activity timeline and sequencing of chicken meat and
egg improvement interventions: Gantt chart
Activities timeline
S/No Investment Intervention
2023 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027
Feed and feeding
Enact regulations and acts that discourage the export of brans and oil seed cakes outside the country within 2
1
years.

2 Sensitize and train farmers on the utilization of bran and oil seed cakes for backyard chickens.

Establish production of backyard chicken ration formulas using locally available feed bases, and sensitize
3
farmers.

Strengthen the Food Safety and Quality Authority (FSQA) to improve its capacity to regulate the quality of
4
imported feeds and feed ingredients.

5 Prepare commercial chicken feed quality standards within 2 years.

Establish a new certified feed quality testing laboratory with a public–private partnership (PPP) approach in 5
6
years.

Encourage and support farmers to grow maize and soybean with or without irrigation for use as chicken feed
7
ingredients.
8 Encourage contract farming between feed millers/processors and cereal farmers.
9 Encourage the importation of maize, soybean, minerals, vitamins and pre-mixes.
Establish silos for both imported and locally produced chicken feed ingredients and processed chicken feeds in
10
PPP mode in 5 years.
Improve the capacity of the existing 5 commercial chicken feed processing plants and establish 5–10 new
11
chicken feed processing plants with ranging capacities in 5 years.

12 Conduct additional research on alternative chicken feed ingredients.

Animal Health
Vaccinate backyard chickens against Newcastle disease and fowl pox. The percentage of backyard chickens
1
vaccinated against these diseases will reach 65% by the end of 2027.
 Activities timeline
S/No Investment Intervention
2023 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027
Treat backyard chickens for internal and external parasites. It is targeted that the percentage of farmers applying
2
internal and external parasite treatments will increase to 65% by the end of 2027.

Facilitate easy access to medication for animals through the creation of veterinary outlets (pharmacies) and cold
3
storage facilities for vaccines.

4 Train backyard chicken farmers on biosecurity measures.

Sensitize indigenous and commercial chicken farmers to vaccinate all their birds against Newcastle disease,
5
gumboro, fowl pox and Marek’s disease to mitigate the risk of cross infections.

6 Train all commercial farmers and traders on biosecurity measures.

Genetic improvement

1 Develop a backyard indigenous chicken breeding policy in the coming 2 years.

Start a backyard indigenous chicken breed improvement program in the coming 3 years and start the
2 distribution of improved indigenous cocks. Within 5 years, it is targeted to start the pilot phase and distribute
improved indigenous cocks to farmers for pilot research work.

3 Establish a commercial chicken parent stock farm with subsidies from the government within 3 years.

Increase the number of hatcheries to meet the expected annual day-old chick demand of about 4 million (about
4 3.8 million broilers and 200,000 layers) by the end of 5 years. Currently, there is demand for about 800,000 day-
old chicks annually.

5 Promote contracts between hatcheries and parent stock farmers.

Education, research and extension services

Increase the number of farmers receiving intensive and continuous chicken improvement trainings (trainings,
1 exchange visits, farmer advisory services, practical demonstrations) to 20,000 by the end of 5 years. Currently,
very few farmers receive backyard indigenous chicken improvement trainings.

2 Develop backyard indigenous chicken improvement training manuals in the coming 2 years.

Support private extension service providers by encouraging veterinary and livestock experts and subsidizing
3 the establishment costs of veterinary pharmacies and input shops, which can serve as veterinary and extension
service provision posts.

Marketing investments

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Activities timeline
S/No Investment Intervention
2023 2024/25 2025/26 2026/27 2027

1 Establish an indigenous chicken producers’ cooperative and a federation.

2 Develop the appropriate acts and regulations in the coming 2 years to regulate the import of eggs.
Promote and support the establishment of cold storage rooms and purchase of cold transportation facilities
3
(preferably solar type) by subsidizing the private sector.

4 Promote and support the formation of commercial chicken producer groups and associations.

5 Strengthen the existing commercial feed producers’ association.

6 Support contracts between groups of producers and buyers.

7 Create platforms for chicken, egg and chicken input producers and buyers to improve the chicken value chain.
ISBN: 92–9146–767–7