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Momodou
Denmark
11744 Posts |
 Posted - 26 Oct 2007 : 18:05:40
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Retrenching Trained Veterinarians Is The Wrong Move!
Dear Editor,
In July this year there was an interview conducted throughout the country with a committee from the Ministry of Agriculture to select staff for National Agricultural Development Agency (NADA). The change accrues benefit to the livestock farmers because of the reduction in the number of veterinary staff in the service.
I think, there was need for capacity building instead of retrenchment. The field staffs were not enough. What would happen, now that they are reduced in number? The veterinary staffs are less than what is needed for the country there arrest not enough drugs and vaccination is done only once in a year which is not enough considering the density of livestock and poultry in some parts of the country especially the CRR, URR, NBR and WR.
It would have been better to capacitate infrastructure than to reduce the veterinary field staff to enable them vaccinate twice in the year with other interventions and farmer training on livestock production to reduce dependence on rain water. There is no farmer who does not have livestock or poultry. Improvement should be made in the livestock production in this country in order to minimize the importation of Rams from other countries especially during Tobaski.
There is a lot to be done to improve the livestock and poultry production within the veterinary services and not reduce its trained staffs. Maybe the veterinary council can come in to save its registered staff to license them to operate in some areas.
I think they are not fighting for food self-sufficiency and poverty alleviation because of the cost of fertilizer in the country. Imagine D600.00 per bag, how many crop farmers can afford to buy sufficient fertilizer to cultivate a sizeable plot of land to enable them produce more food. That would be much more ideal than reducing the agriculture Staff at this stage. When are we going to alleviate poverty?
Capacity building was much more needed than reducing trained staff. I would advise CRS and GAFAN as they are responsible for sesame in the country, to pull more weight to bring in many pressing machines in order to reduce the importation of oil, and to enable livestock farmers to get the sesame cake for fattening and poultry feed.
The policy makers should not accept everything the donor agencies told them based on their own interest alone, which may not favour us. If you go down to the field you will know what is applicable for us to produce more products. That would be better than taking a wrong direction.
The poor farmer would never support NADA because it does not favour them. If there is money, capacitate what is on the ground than reducing the trained staff. Surely it cannot tell well.
Yours truly,
Mohammed Baldeh
Kubuneh.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 126/2007, 26 – 28 October 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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