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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Sep 2010 : 20:23:19
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Price Of Fish Continues to Hike In The Market, Why?
By Lamin Sanyang
17-09-10
For several weeks now, people have been complaining about the price of fish in the markets. People are worried that these high prices that are still lingering will persist to the detriment of the poor. This is a major concern in many places.
This reporter went to Gunjur,Kombo South, at the biggest fish landing site of the country to find out the facts. It was gathered that normally at this time of the year the site usually experiences storm. It is said to start at the early part of July and go on up to the end of September. At the moment few fishing boats are reported to be going to the sea. Many of the fishing boats have gone to other places to avoid the disaster that could be caused by the storm while others hesitate to go out at sea until the danger of storms are reduced. They attribute the high prices to shortage of fish in the markets.
According to Ebrima Sarr, a veteran fisherman at the Gunjur sea site, in the rainy season the major problem they encounter are the storms. He said the storm has destroyed his fishing boat before Ramadan. He said the size of the boat was 20 metres length and 4 metres wide. He said it took them 3 days in the water before they could bring out the remaining parts of the boat to the land. He said the boat would cost D200, 000 while the net which is more expensive costs D350, 000. He said everything was destroyed. He said that his nephew has also lost his boat and his machine is still in the sea.
Mr. Sarr said he was not born in the Gambia but has been fishing in Gunjur for more than 20 years. He said that he has got two compounds and almost all his children were born in Gunjur.
He said that 27 people are working in his boats. He added that there are more than 50 people living in his compound. He informed this reporter that he is required to spend nothing less than D1100 every day for their feeding.
When asked about the income that they used to gain, he said there is good income in the business. He said one morning he went to the sea for fishing before mid-day he was able to catch what could feed him for a whole month but he added that was not an every day scene. He said sometimes you can go fishing for 5 months and would not get good money. As for him the rainy season is the best time for fishing. He said that he did not have any profession apart from fishing. In terms of National Development, Mr. Sarr emphasised that they are very useful to the country because they used to generate lot of income for the government. He said sometimes they would buy truck loads of ice blocks from the cold store at the Gunjur Community Fisheries Project, amounting to D20, 000, in a day. He said so long as they are catching fish, they would need to buy ice from the cold store. He complained that the ice production falls far short of demand. He said sometimes the machine would have break downs. He intimated that this could cause serious problems for them because a great part of their fish would get spoilt.
The reporter asked him where they sell their fish. He said that the bulk of their fish are sold within the country. He said they would sell to the “Bana banas” at Gunjur. At times when the “Bana banas” at Gunjur cannot buy all the fish then they would take some to Tanji. He said they also used to supply the factories. He maintained that the Bana bana were the ones who would buy from them and take it to Brikama, Serrekunda, Banjul and the factories. He said they used to catch many species of fish.
He complained about the problems they are facing at the moment. He said the road from the highway going to the sea is in terrible condition which is causing great difficulties in terms of transport. He said the community fisheries project is not operating. He said they are finding it hard to preserve their fish. He said the shortage of ice block is a serious problem and fish cannot go without ice block. He said among the problems they are facing is that they do not have people who would stand for them in their times of need..
He appealed to the government to come to their aid. He said once he had lost 3 boats but did not write to the government for any support. He said he did everything from his own pocket. He said this time around he is not in the position to do it. He said that for the past 3 years his business was not going well.
Another fisherman called Omar Jagne, said that the problem they are facing is the shortage of ice block. He said they buy ice box for D200 while in Brufut and Sanyang they are selling the same quantity at D100. He said that this is very bad. He even complained that the ice they are selling in Brufut is better than the ones in Gunjur. He argued that the ice in Brufut used to freeze the fish and preserve it longer while the one at Gunjur only keeps it cold.
He said that the storm has destroyed many of their boats. He added the big fish also used to destroy the smaller boats in the sea. He said that that is the reason why some of them stopped going to the sea until the storm has ceased. He indicated that some of their fellow fishermen have gone to Tanji or Kafuntine for a week to see whether things would calm down.
He said at the moment very few boats are going to the sea. According to him this may have resulted in the scarcity of fish in the market. Furthermore, he expressed concern that the road from the highway to the sea side is terrible. He said the government should come to their aid because the site is the biggest in the country. He maintained that once the road is constructed it would attract many investors that would bring great income to the government and the people of this country.
The Gunjur Community Fisheries Project was contacted. The reporter met the Manager of the community fisheries project Mr. Alieu N. Touray. He said that the Gunjur ice plant project is a grant in aid from the Republic of Japan to the Gambia government. He said it is a very big project for the preservation and distribution of fish within and outside the country.
Mr. Touray said that they have a staff of 20.. He said they have about 30 selling points ranging from Jarra Soma to Basse. He said they have salesmen at each station and each of them is paid 10% of his sale.
Mr. Touray said that they have about 12 Fibre glass boats. He said there are 208 fishermen working with them and they are all Gambians including the head fisherman. He said they have a revenue base of 32 sub-units which raises funds for the centre. The fund is paid to the bank every 3 days depending on the amount of sales.
He said they have an accounting manual procedure document introduced by the Ministry of Fisheries and National Assembly matters. The project is a community base project. He said for years they have encountered lots of difficulties from external forces. He said that the Ministry came to their aid to introduce this document to empower the management structure to fully deliver its duties. He said they have a management structure made up of the project operators, village authorities, and the chief of Kombo South, Chairman Brikama Area Council and finally the Governor of Western Region who is the Chairman of the project. He said the Ministry has attached 3 staff to the management team of the project so that they can provide logistical advice or support to the management.
Editor’s Note
Foroyaa will also ask the reporter to discuss with the middle persons and the consumers to get their side of the story.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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concort
365 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2010 : 23:29:29
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Very interesting read...thanks for sharing, Momodou. |
As Salamu Alaikum Waramatullah Wabarakatu |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 17 Sep 2010 : 23:58:14
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A reminder here that ALL fishermen have a very dangerous occupation,the sea is totally unpredictable and can turn at any moment,remember these brave men in your prayers,fish can be many and often scarce,Ebrima Sarr,said that he has 50 people living in his compound and their feeding is D1100, a day a grave responsibility. |
"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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concort
365 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 00:31:51
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| High fuel cost is another constrain the fishermen encounter daily apart from unpredictable stormy weather, high cost of ice block etc. Fuel cost is eating up a good chunk of their profit margin. So, that's part and parcel why the consumer is paying high prices for fish. |
As Salamu Alaikum Waramatullah Wabarakatu |
Edited by - concort on 18 Sep 2010 00:47:11 |
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gambiabev
United Kingdom
3091 Posts |
Posted - 18 Sep 2010 : 12:24:49
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This detailed report is very interesting.
The dangers at sea should never be forgotten.
It also illustrates how one person in a family can have responsibility for many others lives. |
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Momodou
Denmark
11832 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 17:51:32
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Bakau Fishers Throw Light on Their Constraints
By Bakary Y. Jammeh and Lamin Fatty
Reports reaching these reporters have it that the fishermen and middle persons (known as “Bana Banas”) at the Bakau fishing center are undergoing many difficulties in their work which prompted this reporter to contact them to find out what is hampering their work and business.
Speaking to this reporter on Friday 17th September 2010, Mr. Ebrima Jabbi, a fisherman who owns a fishing boat said he spent almost 1300 dalasis to paint his boat few days back. Mr. Jabbi revealed that the sea is generally unsafe during this period, but that one has to sacrifice in order to earn his or her family needs. He said the main problem they are facing now is unavailability of ice block which is creating difficulties for them. Jabbi said the authorities should come to their aid in order to assist them as they are youths who are soliciting support for equipment to enable them to do their work properly. He advised all his fellow youths to join them in the fishing trade.
Mr. Bobb said they do purchase a block of ice at a cost of 3 dalasi.
He added that as a boat owner, he sometimes spend more than ten thousand dalasis plus on ice blocks before going into sea, without which the fish would just get rotten.
Mr. Bobb went on to say that they have an ice block room at the Bakau fishing centre but it lacks regular electricity supply which makes it difficult to have the quality of ice they need.
Asked whether the ice room is being run by the government, he said it is being run by the people of Bakau and it is called Bakau community project.
Badara Ndiaye a Senegalese fisherman said, “We need regular supply of electricity to facilitate our work, because we need ice block to do our work”.
Mariama Camara, a (“Bana Bana”) fishmonger said she bought a basket of lady fish at a cost of 1300 dalasis; and a basket of Bonga (“chaaloo”) for five to seven hundred dalasis. Asked if the price is good for them, she said the price goes up and down based on the catch of the fishermen. She said if they catch more fish, then the price must go down and when they catch less fish, the price goes higher.
Mrs. Camara asserted that things are not easy for them as they lack proper facilities which make it difficult for them to generate reasonable profit. She also lamented the lack of adequate electricity supply.
Ebrima Sanneh, a Gambian youth said, “If we are considered by the authorities, we can contribute immensely to the development of the country”. He added that if the necessary facilities are available, most of youth will abandon the streets.
This reporter went to the ice plant at the Bakau sea side, but was told that the committee members have all gone out.
Editor’s Note
Their views will be published in due course so that one would know why they do not have a generator
Source: Foroyaa Online |
A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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toubab1020
12314 Posts |
Posted - 22 Sep 2010 : 17:57:19
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"This reporter went to the ice plant at the Bakau sea side, but was told that the committee members have all gone out."
This is the usual Gambian problem,unable or more likely unwilling to take responsibility for their actions,Blame someone else and the problem is no longer yours !
(Sorry to have to post that, but the truth sometimes hurts.)
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"Simple is good" & I strongly dislike politics. You cannot defend the indefensible.
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