People complain to Foroyaa that the market is experiencing meat shortage as butchers have not been opening their canteens for unknown reasons.

This reporter visited the country's main Abattoir in Abuko to speak to different people who are directly or indirectly involved in the meat sector.

A butcher named Ndongo Ngum explained that he believes the issue of meat is attributed to different factors. He said he is involved in selling meat of both cattle and small ruminants (sheep and goats). He said the animal dealers determine the prices they sell to them.

According to Mr. Ngum, there used to be more than 200 canteens or butchers' shops in the greater Banjul area, but that now there are only 30 to 35 operating. He said most of the butchers who are non Gambian nationals have left because of the high price of buying animals. He said most of these animal dealers go and buy their animals in Senegal and that the price of meat per kilo in Senegal is more than in the Gambia.

Mr. Ngum said it is always very difficult for them to make profit from the animals they kill when the price per kilo stands at D60 to D80.00.

Samba Bah, another butcher, also explained that the profession, which he learnt from his father, is all that he is used to and has no other alternative. He however complained that they are finding it very difficult to continue with the trade considering the high prices of animals and their household responsibilities and the time it takes them to finish selling the meat of one goat or sheep. He said sometimes they end up not making any profit.

"It is just that there is understanding among us the butchers and the animal dealers. I would always want to sell fresh meat to the people," he said.

A young butcher, Amadou Suwaneh, who said he is in his 20s, explained that he is just trying to keep himself preoccupied as it was his brother who was engaged in the business. Now that the brother had passed away and that he is the one who is now responsible for his brother's family, he has to continue with the business. He said many of their colleagues have already left the job.

Hamad Ndow, an animal dealer, said the cause of the shortage of meat can be attributed to the high prices of animals. He said most of them cross the border or buy animals from Senegal. He said most of their animals bought in the 'Lumos' (weekly markets) do come from Senegal and that considering the exchange rate of the CFA to the dalasi which, he said, is high, those selling their animals to the Gambia always value the price to the CFA. He also talked of the high cost of transportation and other expenditure such as grazing. Ndow said a bag of groundnut shell cost D200.00

Abou Baldeh, aka Baidi, a groundnut shell and hay dealer, admitted that they sell one bag at D200.00 which, according to him, is determined by the high cost of transportation and labour.