The minister of Youth and Sports has called on Gambian youths to come out in their numbers and ‘till the land’ during this coming rainy season.

Alieu K Jammeh made this call on Monday in Kerewan, North Bank Region (NBR) as he began his nationwide tour. Accompanied by senior officials of his Ministry, Minister Jammeh met youths, chiefs and elders in the region and discussed with them issues concerning the upcoming farming season, among others.

At the meeting held at the Governor’s Bantaba in Kerewan, the Youth and Sports minister told the gathering that the purpose of his tour is to remind the youths about the president’s back-to-the-land call for people to grow what they eat in the quest to attain food security. He applauded the efforts of the youths and assured of his Ministry’s support in encouraging them to venture into farming. He urged them to massively till the land while thanking the Gambian leader for championing the back-to-land-call.

Minister Jammeh also commended the youth for establishing a regional youth farm in NBR, which was among the best farms in last year’s rainy season despite the crop failure.

Jerreh Sanneh of the Ministry of Agriculture advised the youths to establish young farmers associations in order to complement the president’s clarion call and by extension, promote networking and diversification of farming.

Musa Mbaye, the deputy permanent secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, expressed gratitude to the youths of NBR for the excellent work they did during the last rainy season, in which they harvested 30 tons.

The chief of Illiassa, Ebrima Ansu Tamba Jammeh, who spoke on behalf of the chiefs in the region, assured of their support and commitment to always answer to President Jammeh’s call. “This year, we will have youth farms in each village,” he added. 

On his part, Musa Jobe from the Ministry of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, urged the youths to venture into fishing. He said his department is coming up with aquaculture for youths, and will also train them in all regions on different areas of fishing. He then advised them to register with their regional youth coordinators to enable them be part of the training.