  The $\gamma$-gated proton spectra measured in the reactions
$^{64}$Ni($^{9}$Be, p2n)$^{70}$Ga and $^{64}$Ni($^{9}$Be, pn)$^{71}$Ga, have
been utilized to obtain the nuclear level density (NLD) of $^{71}$Ga and
$^{72}$Ga nuclei by using the statistical model (SM) calculations. It is seen
that the $\gamma$-gated proton spectrum are reasonably explained by using the
large value of the inverse level density parameter ($k$ = 11.2 MeV) in the NLD
prescription of the Fermi gas (FG) model. The large value of $k$ is indicative
of the rotational enhancement, which is consistent with the earlier results in
other mass regions. Furthermore, a rotational enhancement factor has been
included in the NLD and used in the SM calculation keeping the systematic value
of $k$=8.6 MeV and it explains the $\gamma$-gated proton spectrum nicely. The
result clearly indicates the presence of collective enhancement in NLD.
Subsequently, the NLD with collective enhancement has been utilized in the
TALYS calculation, for the first time, to calculate the $^{71}$Ga(n,
$\gamma$)$^{72}$Ga capture cross-section. It is observed that, while the FG
model without the collective enhancement in the NLD for $^{72}$Ga under
predicts the capture data, with the rotational enhancement correction the FG
model over predicts the data by similar amount at higher energies. However, in
the energy range of 0.01 MeV to 0.1 MeV, the FG model corrected for rotational
enhancement describes the data quite well. Thus, the present work indicates
that collective enhancement, whenever required, should be taken into account
fro proper description of low energy capture cross section data.
