Editorial

Poverty is a verycomplex issue that needs to be tackled on a wide range of fronts. This includes improving the economic growth, supported by public policies which enable the poor to access benefits of growth.  

One of the ways to improve the economic growth is through the enhancement of small scale industries and medium size enterprises. The small scale enterprises normally consist of one to three people normally in a family, often managed by women. Women being the most vulnerable group when it comes to poverty, it is essential that they are provided with the necessary tools and resources to excel in this trade.

A better management of small scale enterprises will go a long way in the eradication of poverty. this is because, it will not only serve as a source of employment for those involved, but can also permit them to earn for themselves assets that allow for the emancipation from the poverty trap. They are immediate means of generating income for the poor, to improve their standards of living, take care of their basic social family needs, and pay for their children’s school fees, among others.

It is apparent that the need for The Gambian people especially the youth folk to involve in small scale enterprises cannot be over-emphasized. This would lead to more employment creation for the idle youthful population. Gambian youths are therefore encouraged to take to this trade rather than think of scarifying our lives and limited resources in taking perilous journeys in the high seas to Europe.   
 
It is nonetheless importance to provide a vibrant market for such enterprises. Markets in the developing countries are characterized to a large extent by limited purchasing power of the average consumer. The enterprises are therefore compelled to produce at the lowest cost in the market, sacrificing the quality aspect. Policies, principles and programs have to be promulgated to defending these enterprises of the poor especially from competition with large scale industries. This will enable us produce a market that will not view domestic products as vastly inferior to foreign-made ones.

Furthermore, they should also be provided with the necessary infrastructure that can enable them to deliver efficient and quality goods to their customers. If we aid the poor to venture into small scale enterprises, surely extreme poverty will be eradicated.