At least 50 poultry farmers from across the country, on Sunday, held a one-day consultative forum on the way forward for the development of the poultry industry in The Gambia at a ceremony held at the Wellingara agricultural centre.

The day’s forum was organised by working groups of different poultry farmers’ associations in collaboration with the National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA), and the Department of Veterinary and Extension Services, among others.

The forum which brought together all actors in poultry farming was meant to discuss problems and challenges facing the poultry industry and to come up with priority action points for the revitalisation of the industry in the short or medium term.

In his opening remarks, Musa Dampha, director of Extension Services, said the forum was crucial as it brought together stakeholders in the poultry industry.

According to him, NADA’s objective is to transform the agricultural sector from a subsistence low-input production system to a more commercial oriented large-scale agriculture in line with Vision 2020 goals.

“This forum is indeed a step in the right direction as NADA’s key objective is to make The Gambia attain food self-sufficiency,” he said. He emphasised that it is through such dialogue that the problems facing the industry can be tackled. Mr Dampha also called for public-private sector partnership.

Ngane Thomas, chairman of the occasion, thanked participants for their turnout, noting that the forum would yield positive knowledge crucial to the poultry industry’s development in the country. Other speakers at the ceremony  included Babucarr Boye, a poultry farmer. Dr Kebba Daffeh, director of Veterinary Services delivered the vote of thanks.