Thousands of people from all over the country over the weekend answered President Yahya Jammeh's back-to-the-land call, which aims at ensuring the country's food self-sufficiency and its ability to export to other countries all over the world.

Speaking to journalists at the President's farm, Abdou Badjie, Governor of Western Region said the objective of the President in engaging in farming is to work for the benefit of all and everyone in the country wants to come to the President's farm to give a helping hand. 

1. He said their motive for working on the President's farm is to ensure that The Gambia becomes food self-sufficient. "This is because when we become food self-sufficient, it will help us to eradicate poverty.  We all know that the proceeds of this farm goes back to the people of this country", he said.

Governor Badjie pointed out that the Gambian leader is exemplary among all the African leaders and if all the leaders should emulate him, Africa will be liberated, and will not depend on imported foods or commodities.

Alieu Jarju, acting Director-General of the Management Development Institute (MDI) said that is the duty and responsibility of every Gambian to see to it that whatever is obtained from this farm is for every Gambian noting that his institute is one of the beneficiaries of the proceeds of the president's farm.  He revealed that currently MDI has 20 students who are sponsored by the Jammeh Foundation for Peace.

Mr Jarjue added that President Jammeh has set the example by going for farming and people should follow suit. He added that many Gambians either directly or indirectly are benefiting from the proceeds of the Kanilai farms, noting that it is the obligation of the MDI to complement the efforts of President Jammeh.

For his part, Ansumana Jammeh, Executive Director of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace said they came to the President's farm to answer to his clarion back-to-the-land call geared towards the socio-economic development of the country. He said that it is quite clear to all Gambians that, the proceeds of the farm will go a long way towards helping the people of the country.

"The proceeds of the Kanilai Farm is used to help people perform the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, paying of school fees for students irrespective of their political affiliations. We, at the foundation have to play our part in enhancing the objectives of the President's call as President Jammeh is our main sponsor.

We are proud to be here on the farm to make sure that the president's aims and objectives become reality.  The Jammeh Foundation is investing in Education, agriculture, health and other sectors to make sure that Gambians are well-equipped to overcome their obstacles", he noted.

Mr Jammeh added that the Jammeh Foundation also gets sponsorship from the Amsterdam-Dakar rally which helps to boost their morale.  He revealed that the chairman of their board, Mr Ardy Sarge, a prominent businessman is a dynamic man who also goes out to provide a lot of things for them.  He said Mr Sarge is always ready to support and intervene in many of their development areas.

For his part, Sulayman Trawally, second Permanent Secretary, Department of State for Agriculture said the number of people who come to the President's farm shows a positive response to the president's call.  He said agriculture employs 80% of the country's population and it is through agriculture that the country can become food self-sufficient. He noted that the Gambian leader is committed to seeing that the Gambia gets enough food.

"If the country is not food secured, there cannot be any meaningful development", he said.

He noted that the Department of State for Trade and Employment has in the pipeline plans to market farmer's produce, noting that discussions are currently on to remedy the plight of Gambian farmers.

Mr Trawally further noted that his department is doing all it can to ensure that the dreams of President Jammeh to attain food self-sufficiency for the country is achieved but that this requires the collaboration of all Gambians so that poverty can be eradicated.

Lamin Jobe, acting Director-General of the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) said: "We are here to show our solidarity with the President in his efforts to attain food security. We feel that NARI should set standards to show the people of this nation that we are behind President Jammeh", he noted.

He added that the Gambian leader needs to be emulated. He said NARI as a research institute is involved in more research in the cultivation of  rice and other crops in the country.

"We are doing research on NERICA rice and other varieties to see that those types of crops do well in this country.  We have gone to the president's farm and we have taken note of what we have seen.  We have lot of advice which we will give to the Kanilai farm manager on how to improve on what we have seen on the ground", he disclosed.

Mr Jobe further noted that NARI is not only doing research on rice but on other crops like groundnuts, sesame, maize among others, emphasising the need for diversification.

"In fact we have two types of NERICA rice, the upland the lowland. The NERICA rice that the farmers are growing is only for the upland but we are also looking at other NERICA rice that could do well on lowland. We have other types of rice that would also do equally well in the upland like the NERICA rice, if put in the same areas", he asserted.

He then added that there are other types of rice varieties which were used by farmers before shifting to the NERICA rice.

Other speakers included Jammeh Saidy, a State Enrolled Nurse from Bansang, Lamin M Bojang, National Assembly Member for Kombo East and Haddy Nyang-Jagne, National Assembly Member for Jeshwang.

They all pointed out that women are always in the forefront of national development and commended President Jammeh for waiving the maternity fees for women, something which has never happened in the history of Africa or any part of the world.