Nfamara Jammeh, a senior officer at the Ministry of Trade in the capital city, Banjul, has said the government recognised the pivotal role the poultry sector contributes to the development of commerce and the economy of The Gambia.

Citing a report in The Point, All Africa reports that Mr Jammeh was speaking at the opening of a daylong orientation forum for EMPAS out-grower scheme participants aspiring to be entrepreneurs at the company's Farato.

The long-term objective of developing The Gambia's poultry sector is in line with the President's vision of food self-sufficiency by 2016, he said.

The Gambia remains a predominantly agricultural country, as far as employment is concerned, and a service economy in terms of contribution to GDP, he added.

However, he said, poultry farming plays a major role in the livelihood of most farmers and vulnerable women and young people, especially in the rural areas.

The sub-sector also serves as an income-generating sector with a huge potential of creating jobs and food, he added.

'Poultry farming plays a crucial role in the farming value chain system, taking into account the processes involved at various stages of livestock and poultry production and management," Mr Jammeh said.

"It is no doubt that the commercial poultry sub sector is virtually dominated by imported poultry products throughout the country, and interventions are to be directed towards enhancing the lucrative venture of the local livestock production."

The sector also made a significant contribution to the commercial sector in meeting the rapidly growing demand for poultry products, especially during the tourist season, he added.

Mr Jammeh added: "It is evident that there is a huge gap in the local poultry production that needs to be filled and would require an increase in production, labour, review of government policies and protective measures to give priority to the local poultry industry."

Principally, the government's support to any level of investment within the economy has been well defined in national documents, such as the national MSME policy and action plan, the National Investment Act, the National Entrepreneurship strategy, GIEPA Bill 2014, and the trade policy review document for The Gambia.

Given that poultry keeping is one of the most popular livestock enterprises in Africa, poultry products do not only serve as an important income-generating activity, but also contribute to addressing the food crisis being experienced by most developing countries, he went on.

Poultry also serves as a major source of animal protein and is being used in many diets, he continued, adding that the sector provides employment directly to individuals in production and marketing, and indirectly through linkages with suppliers of such inputs as day-old chicks, feeds and veterinary services.

The All Africa report adds that he also stated that investment in the poultry industry would have significant multiplier effects through both their backyard and forward linkages along the value chains.