As the raining season enters its first days, farmers in The Gambia's farest region, URR, have massively turn to the land, in response of President Jammeh's back-to-the-land call for food self sufficiency.

Speaking in an interview with our URR correspondent, farmers from several locations in the region expressed their desire to till the ground extensively this raining season. According to many, they are compelled to till the ground this year, following the president's dialogue with the people's tour, where he blamed most men for not working harder in the area of farming and hailed the women for their commitment to nation building. Some indicated that they where inspired by the president's call and thus, they must heed to the call for their own benefits and the nation at large.

Seyfo Jun Bah, the Sandu district chief who is heading the back to the land crusade in Sandu said he is with the full believe that if the advice of the president to go back to the land is adhered to with commitment, then in a very possible short time, The Gambia will be a food self-sufficient and will ever remain a powerful supplier of agricultural products within the sub-region.

According to the Sandu chief, his people are farmers who will never be lacking behind noting that they entirely depend on farming for their livelihoods. "Farming is what we found here and we must farm to sustain ourselves. We have the appropriate land to do it, but the issue is that people are always reluctant to dedicate just few months to work and harvest surplus or bumper. This is why we should listen to the president's call and respond to it accordingly" he said.

According to him, alleviating poverty cannot be done by government alone, but the commitment and dedication of the people is also a fundamental and very important component in the process. He then assured that bumper harvest will be registered by God's power come the end of these raining season as his people are turning over to farming positively than ever. .

Demba Bah, of Sarreh Demba Torro in URR is also with the opinion that if the rains turn in their favour, Gambia should expect the most successful agricultural harvest in this year. He also expressed believed that the government, through the community drive development project (CDDP) have done a lot to boost their desire in making the country food self-sufficient.

According to him, farming inputs and fertilisers have been provided to them by the community drive development project, which he said, will add up their capacity. Abdoulie Jawla, also a celebrated farmer in Misira village, vowed to plough a large area of land than ever which he has never attempted for his fifteen years of farming. He attributed this to the level of support they are receiving from the government of The Gambia through the CDDP and the personal support of the president, whom he described as a man with a burning desire to develop his motherland.

Kumba Gikineh, a successful woman groundnut cultivator in Diabugu also told our reporter that they have started cultivation. She further indicated that farming is part of their inheritances as rural women are blessed with the land and environment. She paid homage to the country's leadership for its vision and support to the agriculture sector. She used the opportunity to appeal to the government and NGOs to provide them with more fertiliser, as according to her, they are cultivating a great deal of land.

Oumie Sanokoh, Bintou Jawara and Ousman Sumbundu, all farmers and gardeners in Baja Kunda, Wulli East, expressed similar sentiments, promising a bumper harvest, especially in groundnuts.