The back to the land call by His Excellency the president, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, in his unending food self-sufficiency crusade, has continued to receive massive response from the people.

Even academics are not be left behind as indicated by students of the University of The Gambia (UTG), who descended on Kanilai, last weekend, to clear the 4.2 hectare piece of land allocated to them by the Gambian leader. Led by students' union leader Ansumana Darboe, the clearing exercise by the University of The Gambia Students' Union members is part of preparations ahead of this year's farming season.

Famara Badjie, the farm manager of the UTGSU Farm in Kanila, described the piece of land as vast, adding that the clearing exercise is in response to the clarion call by the Gambian leader, whose initiative it is to achieve food self sufficiency and security for the country. Calling on the people to follow the footsteps of all those who have responded to the president's call, Badjie argued that all efforts in this direction will be crucial in order to alleviate hunger.

He thanked the President Jammeh for his constant show of concern for the welfare of the university, describing him as the main sponsor of students at the UTG. Ansumana Darboe, UTGSU president, who led a group of 92 students to Kanilai, described the clearing exercise as successful as the land now ready for cultivation. He joint the UTGSU farm manager in describing the back-to-the land call as the only way of achieving food security. He also noted that President Jammeh has been supportive of UTG and that this leaves them obliged to answer to his call.

Marakissa Ward clears Jammeh's farm In similar engagement, the community of Marakissa Ward also embarked on a mass clearing exercise at one of the president's farm in Kanilai. Omar Faye, the farm manager, dwelled on the importance of the president's back-to-the-land initiative, which he said many students are being sponsored from. He argued that the initiative is the only way through which the chronic poverty levels can be done away with and hunger alleviated, alongside the reduction of importation of foodstuffs. He therefore implored all to respond to the Gambian leader's back-to-the-land call "for national development."