The Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in The Gambia through Ambassador Samuel Chen last week handed over the Tilapia Culture Technology Transfer Project in Sapu, Central River Region (CRR), to the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources. It came after five years of cultivating test and developing of Tilapia in the country, during which time the TTM also chronicled two hand books on aquaculture, titled; “The Gambia Aqua-culture Feed-Brew Handbook” and “The Gambia Tilapia Cultivate Handbook”. Before the handing of the project, the Mission had trained several aqua-culture technicians who are to take over fish ponds and development of tilapia culture in the future.
Ambassador Chen in his statement at the occasion again spoke about the potential of CRR in agricultural production, saying the region has abundant river water, which made it the most ideal area for agriculture development. The deputy permanent secretary at the Fisheries Ministry, Sosseh Jallow, expressed appreciation to the Republic of China (Taiwan) for its contribution to The Gambia’s agricultural development, particularly the fisheries sector. She reiterated the importance of aquaculture in boosting the national economy and the provision of food, saying the sector is critical to the attainment of food security in The Gambia. She observed that today, Gambians are becoming more involved in fish farming. While stating that President Jammeh himself has taken the lead in the practice of aquaculture in his home village of Kanilai, the Fisheries Ministry DPS urged her colleagues to ensure the dissemination of the knowledge to the farmers in order to attain the highest yields possible.
About the project
The Tilapia Culture Technology Transfer Project started in Jahally Pacharr in 2007, with the aim to improve the food supplement in animal protein through fish and also help to increase income of families in fish-culturing process.
In August 2010, the Ministry of Fisheroes and Water Resource invited Taiwan Embassy to work together alongside the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Gambia office to reach the consensus for a tripartite cooperation in aqua-culture development at Sapu.
During 2011-2012, the Taiwan Technical Mission had given training to partners from the Department of Fisheries. In January this year, the Department of Fisheries was able to take over the Jahally Hatch Farm smoothly. This hand over is therefore expected to help the Gambia fisheries sector to develop more effectively.
2013 The Daily Observer