THE GAMBIA: Poultry shop opens to offer new avenues of revenue for community
Local production and market directly linked as part of initiative
(MissionNewswire) The Beteyà Guinar Shop has opened in Kanuma, The Gambia, to provide a retail outlet for the purchase of chickens of poultry products produced locally. Launched by the Don Bosco 2000 Association, the opening of the shop completes the poultry supply chain that was created in recent years to directly link local production to the market, strengthening the community’s economic autonomy.
The shop is the conclusion of a collaborative project among Salesian organizations in Italy, The Gambia and Senegal. It was funded by Don Bosco in the World Foundation. It started with the formation of local operators and production in the poultry houses and has now led to the direct sale of products. The renovation of the poultry house and the launch of poultry production with regular breeding cycles have created an integrated supply chain capable of generating employment and skills in the region.
The initiative also has a tangible impact on the local community of Kanuma, where until now anyone wishing to buy chickens or poultry products had to travel several kilometers to reach the nearest markets. The new shop creates a stable local market, facilitating access to products, reducing travel costs and stimulating new economic dynamics in the area.
“This project demonstrates that cooperation can generate real development,” said Agostino Sella, president of Don Bosco 2000 Association. “A local economic supply chain was built capable of creating jobs, skills and autonomy. With the shop, we are completing a journey that brings together formation, production and the market.”
Abie Jawarà, a representative of the community benefiting from the project, also spoke at the opening, expressing gratitude to the organizations involved and emphasizing how their support made it possible to create a tangible opportunity for the area and for the families in the community.
Gerome Djiba, a Don Bosco 2000 Association aid worker based in The Gambia, played a key role in the operational implementation of the initiative. He noted that the project is the result of a collaborative effort between local communities, operators and international partners.
The cooperation model promoted by the Don Bosco 2000 Association aims to link regions and skills between Europe and West Africa, fostering the exchange of know-how and the creation of local economic opportunities. The initiative launched in The Gambia is part of a broader approach already successfully tested in Senegal.
The World Bank has noted that with increasing labor incomes and decreasing inflationary pressure the extreme poverty rate dropped to 15.5% in 2024 in The Gambia. There remain struggles in the labor market leading to accelerating migration, including low labor-force participation, especially among young adults and women, few high-productivity job opportunities, and a widespread informal labor market.
The World Bank has further noted that while The Gambia made progress toward better living standards, large disparities remain. Access to water, electricity and other services rose for those of a middle income bracket while the poorest saw no improvements. Access to electricity and water remained below 20%.
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Sources:
ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)
World Bank – The Gambia
