Maybe Jambo has a point. Mommodou increasingly the Kombos are an attractive magnet for Country Youth who are trying to contribute to their families. However this influx to the urban centers are impacting on Gambia's agricultural sector. The question what incentives are their for rural people to be persuaded to work on the land when farmers experience severe hardship to scatch out meagre existences?
momodou never thought they were, but it just seems strange that one of the reasons for youth moving to the urban areas is money and jobs, yet the rural areas need manpower
quote:Originally posted by Momodou Many youth don't want to spend their lives on farming.
the problem is not a lack of workforce.there are more tractors now than ever. its simply to do with agronomics. people are giving up farming not because of lack of labour becuase no one can make money from farming or agriculture today! its impossible!
you can never compete with the imported stuff/junk. Never. it is foolish to even try. its not just in the Rural areas there is a problem, youths in the Urban coastal fishing villages, even senegalese youths are complaining. before you couldnt count the variety of fish and quanitity of Kobo for example. these days boats come back almost empty!!!
a carton of frozen imported EU chicken is cheaper than a kilo of good quality shrimps!!!
if the market is not closed/regulated so that local demand can induce local production it will not change the situation.
Eeeehh, njucks!!!! Don't you remember that concerning Neoliberalism and Globalization, closing the market - like any other measures of regulation - is one of the 7 deadly sins!! If Jammeh did this, the West would punish him harder than if he decided to rob and kill the whole nation...
People drift to areas of higher employment and higher wages. It is part of industrialisation. Why else would everyone in uk want to crowd into the south eastern corner and spend their lifes commuting? Life is much nicer in North Yorkshire, but the job prospects arent so great.Likewise in Gambia farmers might want a pair of hands for casual labour from time to time, but there is not much income in it. Also for young people there is a draw to the coast/city as being more exciting. Perhaps village life seems a bit tame when you are 18?!
Serenata you are right but one has to get out of this trap. its very dangerous and day the West goes bad we will feel the impact even before they do.
Gambiabev. i could almost agrre with you. but i think you cannot sya this with the gambia. Bakau is a village. people are still farming mostly women near radio gambia where they grow vegetables to sell. unfortunately Bakau also has the highest ocncentration of hotels in The Gambia and all serve imported vegetables!!! this is wrong and should be stopped by regulation.
it is only in Banjul that people dont farm. In the UK you have surplus food. We dont.
A nation cannot rely on IMPORTING only because it is cheap. When the Tsunami occurred there was a story on the Observer indicating that their might not be enough rice the following months. whilst the story like was not true it shows you how vulnerable we are.
Gambia is at a stage where Agriculture is still important accounting far more than tourism. in the UK agriculture is insignificant.
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Posted - 06 Nov 2006 : 15:14:52
