The creation of a market

Women Empowerment Gains Momentum, as Gov allocates vast plot of land for a multi-purpose market

In its drive to reduce poverty by empowering women who are found to be the most vulnerable, the government of the Gambia has taken two major bold steps in recent years. first the launching of the National Federation of Gambian Women and the allocation of a multi-million plot of land at a strategic location at Bursubi around the police station for the purpose of a multi-purpose market, whose establishment would cost 250 million Gambian dalasi.
The land would be used as a multi-purpose centre dubbed ‘Lumo’, where people, particularly women from all walks of life including those from the sub-region meet to trade and show-case their produce. It creates a sort of a platform where wholesalers could buy large quantity of produce and sell them under retail at the mini-markets in the region.

In a bid to get the glimpse of the rationale behind the initiative, our reporter spoke with certain personae that are keyed in the National Federation of Gambian Women- the federation launched recently to oversee the affairs of Gambian women from both the formal and informal sectors of the country.

Ida Faye Hydara, the executive director of Women’s Bureau told this reporter that
products produced by various villages could be brought here as a wholesale, so those from the serrekunda market, Bundung market and other markets can come here and buy them. She said this create an “easy access to horticultural products for market sellers”.
“This is like creating a link between sellers and buyers, as well as producers.

Asked what about villages that produce the same products and wish to access the market, whether there would be no conflict of interest? She said they are laying much emphasis on a system of “one village one product”, by “organising and programming them [the producers].”

She harps on the high interest rate that banks give to women, saying this is why they are not reluctant to give them credit, so they would have finance to buy some of their needs. We are trying to create an avenue for business venture, that’s why we told them to pay five dalasi each [500,000 women targeted].”
However, she said even though this stipulated amount is paid, they are still unable to meet the necessary financing to build up the market. “That’s why we asked every woman to pay D500 each, so we meet the demand [D250 million] for a multi-purpose centre [lumo].” She adds that they should not be at a standstill as a result of donor funding gap, but rather use their own resources to implement programmes. “It has been a while women are oriented to sit and wait for donor funding, which is not sustainable. Vegetable growing or farming is different… you have to invest to really make money out of it.” Putting up effective water system and proper sanitation is part of the demand Ida made mentioned about. That is why the Federation has targeted 500, 000 women who are committed to paying D500 each in order to make a headway for the market.

She called on the women to manifested commitment, saying “the more women are committed, the more support we get from both government and development partners,” even though she described the latter as “not sustainable”.

She challenged the need for private sector involvement, saying “we are expecting them to support us in the area of creating more awareness,” adding: “they have brilliant ideas.”

“Financial institutions need people [business people] to save, so if people don’t have enough money, how do you expect them to save [or pay]?”
“That’s why they have to come closer to our federation and support our initiative.” She enjoined them to seek bilateral relationship with the federation, so both parties will brainstorm on great ideas.

At the heart of the initiative, she said, they are proposing 200 shops, food market, [lumo] and an area where they will sell country-made produce. We are also proposing to have storage facilities, skills training centre facilities, clinic, day care, beauty shop, wholesale stores, clothing etc. “We started selling rice in collaboration with KGI. Very soon we will start partnering with importers that sell oil.”

“All this is as a result of helping women and creating more profitable business avenue for women or improving what they are already engage in. The proceeds realised will be reinvested back to women programmes and empowerment that are aim at augmenting the social status of women and meeting the MDGs.
Asked if there is any interest rate attached to it, she said theirs is more of a “social collateral”, with little if any interest rate.

Fatoumatta Jah, President to the Federation said they want to have a “microcredit for women”, because of the high interest rate of banks. She adds that theirs is 7% interest rate. However, taking into consideration the large number of horticultural producers coming from the rural area, Mrs Jah pointed that they are devising ways and means of making the market accessible to rural women, saying they are strategizing how to transport them with their goods to the market on regular basis.

Ramou Cole-Ceesay Permanent secretary (2) office of the vice-president said they will start of with constructing a food production and processing plant. “Most produce are highly perishable and there is hardly any outlet for marketing, as a result women end up selling produce at a very risky price [low priced].”
The creation of a large market of this kind, as she puts it, will help mend the situation, as they will craft linkages between major buyers, such as the hotels and other industries.

Asked if she foresees a situation of oligopoly- where sellers outnumber buyers, she responded in the negative, saying “hotels want quantity, noting that quality is one key point, but quantity on a continuous daily basis is another. We have a market locally, and Senegal comes year-round with trucks to buy Gambian produce. They come and buy in bulk, because they [commodities] are cheaper here [in Gambia].
“As long as the astronauts remained in space, Gambian