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President Jammeh projects Jurunku rice farm to feed Niumi
- As tour begins
In a rather unusual fashion, the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, has kicked off this year’s dialogue with the people tour with visits to project sites, particularly agricultural projects, across the length and breadth of the country.
 
This constitutionally mandated presidential exercise allows the chief executive the opportunity to have a direct discussion with the grassroots in which the President not only takes stock of the development undertakings but also listen to the plight of the people for address. However, this year’s tour is peculiar in a sense it is mainly an assessment undertaking in which President Jammeh ascertains the progress made in the course of the 20 years of his leadership, through visits to farmlands and other project sites, while taking note of shortcomings for action.
The village of Jurunku in the Upper Niumi District of the North Bank Region was the first point of call on Thursday, where President Jammeh and the tour party visited a massive 40-hectare rice field adopted by the National Assembly. Amidst a rousing welcome, the President surveyed the Jurunku rice field with satisfaction and enthusiasm. He declared to put his weight behind the magnificent project and promised to install about five boreholes at the farm for it to ensure that it is an all-year round production. He projected the Jurunku rice field as having the potential to feed the whole of Niumi.
The Gambian leader went on to re-echo his mantra – the need for Gambians to go back to the land en mass with the objective to feed ourselves – and cited nations like China which made significant stride in agricultural production and exporting rice to The Gambia, despite its farmers not given the machinery, as clear examples, contrary to our thinking. He made this remark, having observed that a large number of people are reluctant to farm, with the excuse that government did not give them the required equipment to farm. He reminded of government’s commitment to ensure that Gambia ceases importation of rice in two years’ time – 2016.
President Jammeh once again showered praises on the women of the country for their relentless efforts in agricultural production and positive attitudeto work, while calling on men to adopt the same commitment, be supportive to the women and their children. He also called on the Gambian youths to assist their mothers in their gardens and farms rather than spending all their time playing football.
Presenting some garden produce from the farm, which include bags of rice, cabbage, onion and garden egg to the President, the Deputy Speaker of theNational Assembly, Fatou Mbaye explained the rationale behind the Assembly’s involvement in such a massive farming venture. She said being the people’s representatives, the House forms the biggest constituent of the population; hence, producing such a farm in Jurunku is an exemplary move meant to honour His Excellency’s back to the land call and the national food self-sufficiency vision.
The Speaker informed that they have been working on the farm for the past three years covering 20 hectares of the about 40-hectare land, and that thanks to the collaboration and hard work of the people of Jurunku the project becomes a success. Indicating that they may not have the wherewithal to cultivate the whole land, Madam Mbaye assured of their resolve to continue working on the farm to expand to the remaining space.By Madiba Sillah
Courtesy of Department of Information Services |
