Gambia just wrapped up reviewing its plan to wipe out Peste des Petits Ruminants by 2030 after the African Union helped fund a weekend workshop. The disease hammers sheep and goats hard and basically wrecks the income for smallholder farmers who depend on those animals for cash and food. Officials from the agriculture ministry and livestock services got together to update their old strategy from 2017, since disease patterns have shifted, and they need to match what the rest of the continent is doing.
The livestock director said this goes way beyond just animal health because rural families rely on these animals for everything from meat to manure to religious ceremonies. Losing herds to PPR threatens food security across the country and keeps people stuck in poverty. They brought in technical experts and farmers to make sure the updated roadmap actually works on the ground and keeps the country moving toward killing off the disease for good.
The livestock director said this goes way beyond just animal health because rural families rely on these animals for everything from meat to manure to religious ceremonies. Losing herds to PPR threatens food security across the country and keeps people stuck in poverty. They brought in technical experts and farmers to make sure the updated roadmap actually works on the ground and keeps the country moving toward killing off the disease for good.
