The Gambia government through the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, and the African Development Bank Group, yesterday, signed a supplementary loan agreement for the artisanal fisheries development project, amounting to UA5 million equivalent to US$7.5 Million.

The signing ceremony was held at the conference room of the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the Quadrangle in Banjul. Signed by Mohamed H'Midouche, regional resident representative of the ADB, and Madam Ada Gaye, deputy permanent secretary at the ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, the objective of this intervention is to increase fish production and income of the fisher folks, as well as to contribute to the nutritional welfare of the population. The project will also cover the construction of a jetty in Banjul, the construction of a fish market in Bakoteh and fish landing sites in Albreda, Bintang and Tendaba.

Speaking shortly after signing the loan agreement, Madam Ada Gaye, deputy permanent secretary at the Finance and Economic Affairs ministry, expressed government's gratitude to the ADB for the support given to the fisheries sector. She underscored the significance of this sector, noting that it is an area where foreign direct investments are encouraged. She described fish as an excellent source of human protein, adding that fishing facilitates foreign exchange earnings.

The proposed Bakoteh fish market, according to DPS Gaye, is very significant, taking into account the population density and the proximity of the area to the women. "The inland landing sites component of the project will also help the women folk in their income earning capacities," she said, while commending the ADB for this intervention. For his part, Mohamed H'Midouche said ADB is delighted to be a key contributor to the financing of a number of projects in The Gambia, particularly the fisheries sub-sector. He noted that in The Gambia, the ADB is the 'partner of choice', saying that their support to the agricultural sector including fisheries is in line with government's aim of enhancing the productive capacity of the poor through such programme areas as income generating activities and food security.

The beneficiaries of this project, according him, are the rural and urban consumers, estimated at 1.5 million people, while about 4,000 fisher folks will be using the jetty and landing sites. "With this support from the Bank, it is expected that annual landings of 'Bonga' will be increased by 2,500 tons and the industrial fishing landings by 1,500, by [the year] 2011. Annual income of the fisher-folks will be increased from their current levels of GMD 15,000-30,000 to GMD 17,000-36,000 by 2011," said the ADB regional resident representative.

In the same vein, he added, the quantity of the fish exported will be increased from the current 1500 tons to 3000 tons by 2011. "In addition, over 100,000 traders and consumers, 70 percent of whom are women, will be making use of the market. With this resources rightly deployed, it is expected that per capita consumption will increase from 25kg in 2008 to 27kg by 2011," he revealed. According to him, the construction of the fish market in Bakoteh will increase the volume of the fish traded to an estimated quantity of 950 metric tones. He indicated that the same goes for the landing sites where quantities of fish landed would be increased by 1500 metric tones.

The ADB regional resident representative used the opportunity to reiterate their appreciation of the excellent relations between the ADB and the government of The Gambia. Lamin Nyabally, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, described the signing ceremony as yet another important milestone in the annals of the artisanal fisheries development project. He noted that the fund would be beneficial in the attainment of the Fisheries department's objective.

While expressing the unflinching support of government towards the development of the fisheries sector, PS Nyabally assured the ADB of their commitment to ensuring that they go by the provisions of the agreement. He thanked the Finance ministry for their efforts in the acquisition of this loan agreement.