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fankungfankung
Gambia
13 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Nov 2010 : 13:40:28
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State House rice farm harvested
http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/state-house-rice-farm-harvested
Monday, November 01, 2010
 Hundreds of women volunteers from four villages in the Kombo South and North Constituencies of the West Coast Region Saturday turned out in their numbers to harvest a vast Nerica rice farm cultivated by the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh at State House in Banjul.
The women, drawn from the villages of Gunjur, Nyofelleh, Sanyang and Brufut, were joined by President Jammeh himself in the harvest. Speaking to journalists shortly after harvesting the rice farm with the volunteers, the Gambian leader thanked the women for their efforts, recalling that they were the same people who helped in transplanting the same field.
He said: "Every year we used to backfill it during the dry season thinking that it will no longer be water logging, but after when the rains begin, we realised that was not a solution. Every year throughout the rainy season it is always waterlogged and so when we plant Bahamas and there is a waterlog for a very long time it dies. So at the end of the day, we have more grasses. So this year I decided that instead of just leaving it like that, we should plant rice. So we planted rice and it is very good."
President Jammeh hailed the enthusiasm of the women, noting that they came all out to finish harvesting the rice farm in view of the fact that more farms are also due for harvest. He stressed that he cultivated the State House rice farm due to his love for agricultural activities, saying, "working in the field is in my blood".
"Is it possible for me to be going to Kanilai every weekend to do farming? So certain weekends I will not be able to go far away and so it is good for me to come down and do some farming here [State House]. So what we are going to do is after the harvest we are going to allow the rice to come up again and after the second harvest, we are going to turn it into a vegetable garden," he disclosed.
More hands for this year
President Jammeh further stressed that they need more hands this year, more than they had last year, on the numerous Kanilai Farms. "We would need assistance because remember the Findi Farm alone took almost two weeks to harvest. Like the findi, rice also when it is dry, it becomes brittle and then you lose a lot if you don't harvest it on time. So this is why we are appealing to everyone who can help to do so," he appealed. The Gambian leader then reiterated that proceeds derived from his farms are ploughed back to help people in distress, thus all the more reason to give a helping hand on the farms.
"You have seen that we were able to help flood victims from the proceeds of Kanilai Farms. So really we need assistance to be able to harvest them on time,"he stated, adding that the Kanilai Farms realised a lot of post-harvest loses last year.
Also speaking at the site, Brigadier General Serign Modou Njie, the commanding officer, State Guards Battalion , was equally appreciative of the move undertaken by the women to assist in harvesting of the president's rice farm. He opined that the cultivation of a rice farm at State House by President Jammeh only goes to re-emphasise the message that Gambians must be ready to farm no matter where one may be in the quest for self-reliance in food production.
While expressing his gratitude and that of the Gambian leader to the women, Brig. Gen. Njie reiterated the need for every Gambian to adhere to the message sent across by the Gambian leader in the quest towards making the country a food basket.
Alhaji Ebrima Sanyang, a volunteer who also spoke at the site, said working for the president is something worthwhile in view of the numerous things that he has done not only for them but the entire Gambian people. He stated that they are appreciative of whatever the president has done for them, assuring that they will continue to reciprocate those gestures. Sanyang was particularly impressed by the Gambian leader's decision to cultivate a farm at State House, something he added demonstrated his exemplary leadership qualities. This, he said, also goes to show how humble and ambitious the president is, a leader who leads by example.
The National Assembly Member for Kombo South, Honourable Paul Mendy, for his part commended the women for the work they did on the farm, describing them as very serious people.
Like the previous speakers, the Kombo South NAM who is widely involved in the farming activities of the Gambian leader, also lauded the move by the president in cultivating a farm at State House. He described the president as a visionary leader who is determined to develop the country to the highest length.
He said: "In a country like Taiwan, you will see no space there as people cultivate even road sides, premises of houses. So therefore the president feels it necessary to leave no stone unturned when it comes to farming because leaving this space [State House farm] like this, I think it is going to be worthless," he stated, while urging the masses both within and outside the country to copy his example.
Speaking on behalf of the women volunteers, Aja Mariama Sanyang of Gunjur, said their move is more or less like helping the entire nation in view of the fact that proceeds derive from these farms goes to benefit the people. "We are happy with the exemplary leadership of the president in steering the affairs of this country in a right way. We are impressed with his farming activities because a leader who works in a sense works for everyone. So we are behind him in all his ventures," the woman volunteer remarked.
Other volunteers also expressed similar sentiments and used the opportunity to renew their total support for the Gambian leader for his countless meaningful ventures that are towards advancing the human race.
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GOD BLESS SHEIKH PROFESSOR ALHAGIE YAHYA AJJ JAMMEH
(PRESIDENT FOR LIFE.)
GOD BLESS THE GAMBIA
GOD BLESS APRC
DOWN WITH THE FAILED OPPOSITION
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