By Fatou Sillah
Lawmakers have proposed the creation of a comprehensive national framework to regulate transhumance, warning that weak oversight of seasonal livestock movements is fueling conflict, environmental degradation, and security concerns across the country.
The recommendation is contained in a report by the National Assembly’s joint committee on environment and agriculture, following an inquiry into the growing tensions linked to transhumance—the traditional movement of herders and their cattle in search of pasture and water.
While underscoring the economic and social importance of the practice, the committee said the absence of clear rules and coordinated enforcement has intensified disputes between farmers and herders.
“Transhumance constitutes a vital component of rural livelihoods and socioeconomic activity in The Gambia, contributing significantly to food security, livestock production, and the sustenance of pastoral communities,” the report states.
At the same time, lawmakers found that “the absence of an effective regulatory framework, inadequate planning, and limited stakeholder engagement have exacerbated conflicts between herders and farmers.”
Transhumance, long embedded in West African pastoral life, has come under strain in recent years as population growth, land pressure, and climate variability narrow grazing space and heighten competition over resources. Farmers have accused herders of crop destruction, while herders say traditional corridors are increasingly blocked by settlements and farms.
The committee said peaceful coexistence is achievable but will require stronger policy direction and institutional commitment.
“Sustainable and peaceful coexistence between farmers and herders is both attainable and imperative,” the report concludes.
Among its findings, the committee noted that some foreign herders reportedly enter The Gambia outside designated border posts, complicating efforts to verify livestock health certificates and movement permits. Lawmakers also observed that livestock trading, though economically significant, remains largely informal. Participation in weekly markets known as “lumo,” they said, is not always accompanied by full tax compliance.
To address these gaps, the committee recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture develop a national transhumance policy in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Natural Resources. The framework would establish clear guidelines for seasonal movements, strengthen documentation requirements, and improve coordination among agencies.
The report also called for the creation of regional grazing committees, investment in designated pasture development zones, and the formal establishment of livestock corridors, including cross-border arrangements with Senegal.
Security agencies were urged to increase monitoring at official entry points. The Gambia Police Force, the fire service, and the Department of Immigration were asked to strengthen enforcement, particularly in cases involving deforestation, violent attacks, and livestock theft linked to transhumance activities.
In addition, lawmakers pressed the Department of Forestry to strictly enforce environmental laws, especially those governing bush burning and illegal logging, which they said are often associated with unregulated grazing.
The proposed framework, if adopted, would mark the most coordinated national effort to manage transhumance in The Gambia, balancing the needs of pastoral communities with those of settled farmers in an increasingly contested landscape.
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