Officials of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), last Thursday presented a consignment of 20 bags of millet to President Yahya Jammeh, being the produce from a farm cultivated in Bonto, Kombo East by staff of the national broadcaster.

The presentation ceremony was done at State House in Banjul. The bags of millet are meant for the Presidential Treatment Programme. Speaking at the ceremony, President Jammeh commended the entire staff of GRTS for responding to his  call for people to engage in agriculture for food-self-sufficiency, describing their move as "very positive." The president also commended the people of Bonto for their co-operation with GRTS during the course of the farming season.

The Gambian leader maintained that his back-to-the-land initiative is meant to benefit the people themselves, noting that eating what one grows assures one of good health as opposed to eating imported food stuffs. He recalled days of yore when people used to live for as long as a hundred years and above with little ill-health, noting with regret the fact that that trend is no longer a reality in today's world. He pointed out that despite advances in technology and increase in health facilities in the country, people continue to suffer from terrible diseases.

This, according to Professor Jammeh, is all attributable to the trend of eating what is grown outside the country. But he stressed that if all engage in active farming, the daily feeding expenses could be cut down. President Jammeh also revealed that even those who had earlier on shunned his clarion call have now waken up from their dreams, realising that to work for oneself is the only way forward.

President Jammeh rewarded the GRTS staff with a donation of D100,000 (one hundred thousand dalasis). Speaking earlier, Alhagie Momodou Sanyang, the director general of GRTS, disclosed that his establishment's donation was in support of the Presidential Treatment Programme. He revealed that since 2005, his institution had taken up the challenge of venturing into farming, and was pleased to note that the last farming season had been more rewarding than in the previous years.  Sanyang observed that the Gambian leader's know-how in agriculture has paid dividend as it contributed to the bumper harvest realised in that past season.

He stated that his institution's initial intention had been to cultivate either Nerica Rice or other crops on the Bonto Farm. But, he noted, the president, upon seeing the farm, advised them to cultivate millet on it. This, he indicated, is a manifestation of Professor Jammeh's wealth of experience in agricultural activities. DG Sanyang also underscored the significance of food availability. He urged the rest of the Gambian population to heed Professor Jammeh's advice without reservations.

Assuring the president of their resolve to engage in a more competitive farming in the upcoming season, Director General Sanyang hailed Sulayman Cassama and the people of Bonto for being very instrumental during the course of their farming activities. The National Assembly Member for Kombo East, Honourable Lamin Bojang, thanked President Jammeh for "leading by example." He also described the move from GRTS as positive.

The Kombo East NAM used the opportunity to inform the Gambian leader of his constituency's resolve to come up with a mighty farm in the upcoming season. The ceremony, which was attended by senior managers of GRTS, and the Alkalo of Bonto, was chaired by Alhagie Modou Joof, deputy director general of GRTS.