Editor,

I read the above mentioned subject/article, published in your widely read newspaper Thursday 29th May 2008 with keen interest. I would like to support your idea for the Gambia Armed Force(GFA) to be engaged in active agriculture, for that will contribute positively to eradicate hunger in The Gambia.

It's no doubt that if GAF is provided farms in every district in The Gambia to grow different crops that would not only provide them food for their daily consumption but it will also reduce the quantity of food imported into The Gambia.

Under the leadership of General Tamba, the armed forces can engage in any meaningful project to realize Gambia's Vision 2020. To set the ball rolling, I would like to encourage the management of Observer to have dialogue with general Tamba without delay and put forward the idea into practice. I have no doubt each division in The Gambia there would be a Village head to provide the land for such a laudable project. I would suggest a farm in each division for this year as pilot project would justify the means to its end.

In addition, I would like to call on General Tamba and Seedy Kinteh, President of Gambia Football Association (GFA), to call on Village youths across the country to engage in active agriculture. It is evident that by October 2008 to February 2009 many Villages would engage in qualifying rounds for the third division.

We know that Nawettan is organized across the country and President Jammeh have challenged the rural villages to embark on Nor ran. I strongly believe that this is the right time for the head of the Football governing body to encourage Gambian youths to come together for good.

Football clubs especially in the rural area can engage in active farming and contribute to the socio economic development of The Gambia. It would reduce the dependence on such football clubs looking for funding to support their activities as well as enable active sports in the country.

Therefore, I would like to recommend the local government officers in all division to support the youths financially to engage in active farming with effect from this year's rain season. The private sector can support the project through the local government officers across the country.

I am sure the Ministry of Youth and Sports can monitor the project through the divisional youth and sport coordinators in the country. The Gambian youths, led by strong minded leaders, can show a difference in achieving self sufficiency in food production, thus our committed soldiers under the command of our dynamic Gambian leaders, His Excellency Alh. Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh and General Tamba, the sky is the limit.

In my view, Vision 2020 needs to be tackled in different ways. So for the management of Daily Observer to suggest that 'our gallant soldiers get involved in the field of agriculture in every district of this country', is a right step in the right direction.

Momodou Max Jallow

UK