In line with his strongly expressed commitment and untiring effort towards ensuring his food self-sufficiency dream for the country, the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, has taken a giant leap forward by launching a competition with a pledge of a sum of one million dalasi for the most outstanding horticulturist.

President Jammeh made this disclosure as he received a donation of 10 bags of groundnuts, and 2 bags of rice from the chief of defence staff of the Gambia Armed Forces, Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, being produce from his farm, cultivated during the last growing season.

This initiative, purely aimed at further promoting his idea of ‘grow what you eat’, will serve as a motivation for individual farmers and groups to take into serious horticultural production. This competition, accordingly, is set to run through to May 25 2009, to coincide with the birthday of the president.

The president mentioned further that officials at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) will be contacted to provide judges, which will ensure neutrality. He revealed that there will be no runners up at the end of the competition. He then urged the masses to partake fully in the competition, stressing that it is all-inclusive.

On the same occasion, President Jammeh also received a donation of 3 bags of rice, being the produce of a farm cultivated by personnel of the State Guard Battalion. Speaking at the occasion, Professor Jammeh hailed CDS Tamba for such a "kind gesture," noting that it will go a long way in complementing efforts towards the purpose for which it was donated. According to Professor Jammeh, apart from national security duties, the military have a great role to play in the social security of the country, such as the crusade against poverty, and other social problems that continue to serve as threat to peace. He commended the military for the gesture, reiterating that food security is an indispensable part of national security.

The president then described CDS Tamba as a role model worthy of emulation, saying that his ventures are a clear manifestation of exemplary leadership. Recalling his early days in the military, when he used to venture into horticultural activities, the president implored on personnel of the Armed Forces to venture into farming, and urged the top officials to ensure that each unit of the army cultivate their own farm in the next growing season. He also urged them to partake in the horticultural competition.

The vice president and secretary of state for women’s affairs, Aja Dr Isatou Njie Saidy, hailed the leadership quality of CDS Tamba, describing him as a loyal soldier who has done a lot in ensuring peace and security within and outside the country. She described him as a soldier who has raised the flag of the country in many international peace keeping missions. VP Njie-Saidy noted that CDS Tamba’s efforts at ensuring security in the country have led him to venture into such initiatives as farming.

For his part, Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, told the Gambian leader that his family had in the last growing season responded positively to his clarion call for people to go back to the land. He revealed that he was able to realise farm produce of at least 35 bags of groundnuts.

"The remaining bags of groundnuts will be sold and the proceeds will go to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace,’’ he affirmed, while re-echoing the president’s principle of sharing what you have with the masses. The Gambia’s chief of defence staff then revealed that the army had already started venturing into vegetable gardening, the proceeds of which he said will also be donated to the Gambian leader.

Prezy receives former teacher Shortly after the meeting with CDS, President Jammeh received in audience Madam Jane Mackenzie, a former teacher of his. Madam Mackenzie who is said to have been supporting the president in his development drive, told reporters, shortly after her audience with the president, that she was at State House to discuss issues geared towards complementing some of his efforts, notably in the higher education sector.

She recounted progress in her initiative of constructing a library for the country’s highest institution of learning, noting that effort to complete the project has ever been stronger. Mackenzie disclosed that in addition to the 14,000 pound sterling raised by her in the United Kingdom and in the Middle East, she intends to raise 11,000 pound sterling more, said to be the remaining amount that would ensure completion of the project. This she intends to do within three months.

She described President Jammeh as her greatest product to boast of, being a head of state. “I must have been a good teacher,” she said, ‘given the nature of good English the president speaks – it is quite impressive.”Acknowledging the Gambian leader’s great ambition for the country, Madam Mackenzie described him as a strong leader with passion, energy, and commitment to deliver to his people.