In response to the Gambian leader's 'back to the land' call, the State House mosque committee over the weekend harvested its six-hectare sorghum farm in Kerr Torbe, in support of the villagers and other members of the surrounding community of Kerr Torbe and Bakalary in Lower Niumi.

Speaking at the farm, Ba-Sainey Camara, Amir of the State Mouse mosque committee, thanked President Jammeh for inspiring the initiative. He said the committee for the past five years, has been farming and the proceeds are donated to patients at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH) and Jammeh Foundation for Peace Hospital (JFPH), part of it is used during the committee's annual Gamo. Amir Camara recalled the president's 'operation feed yourself' initiative, which he also echoed at the farm. In his view, people should endeavor to go back to farm and not to rely on imported foods, citing quotations in the Holy Qu'ran, which acknowledges that people should eat from their sweat. 

He used the opportunity to thank President Jammeh for being supportive of the Islamic religion and his generosity as demonstrated in the recent donation of thousands of bags of sugar and rice to the Muslims across the country. He ssured that the State House mosque committee would remain loyal to President Jammeh for his stance in supporting Islam. He added that his committee would keep up to the president's call for people to eat from what they grow. 

For his part, Sergeant Saja Colley, deputy Amir of the State House mosque committee, also thanked God for enabling them the chance to be at the farm, noting that this is a call made by the president and that every body must respond to it. Sgt Colley like Amir Camara also talked about the Gambian leader's support to the Islamic religion. He said every good Gambian and non-Gambian should pray for his good health, long life and prosperity. He then thanked the villagers for coming out in numbers to give them helping hand and urged them to rally behind the president, support him in all aspects to enable him accomplish his mission.

The farm manager, Alieu Mbaye, also spoke at the farm and according to him, even if the president did not make the call, people should go back to the land. The back-to-the-land initiative he said, will enable the country to attain its food self-sufficiency. Speaking on behalf of the Alkalo, Demba Sonko urged the youth to work hard as they are the future leaders of the nation. Other speakers at the farm included Bubacarr Ndow and Abdoukadir Fadera, representatives from Bakalary, a neighbouring village.