The Gambian leader,  Professor Alhaji Yahya Jammeh, yesterday evening, made an impromtu visit to a rice field cultivated within the premises of State House in Banjul. He made this visit immediately after attending to hundreds of patients of the 3rd batch of his Asthma treatment programme.

Speaking to journalists at the site, President Jammeh described the visibly well performed rice brand as the “40 day-rice variety.”
Cultivated on October 10 this year, the rice is said to be the last to have been pplanted this season, and President Jammeh is said to be the only person in the country in possesion of this unique rice variety.

According to the Gambian leader himself, he had thought it imperative to make the best use of the land in that area before grass would take over the space, requiring clearing. He revealed further that he had the rice variety grown all over the country, including his Kanilai Farms, and that he was ready to share it with the Gambian people.

Asked about prospects of sharing other rice varieties he posseses, he said: “I am ready to give all the two [Gambianka and the Mungu] rice varieties, and the 40 day-rice variety to people, so that they can multiply it and distribute it. I told NARI and I don’t know why up to now they have not come for it. They [NARI] don’t even have this 40 day-rice variety. The president concluded by saying that in 10 days-time the rice “is expected to be due for harvesting.”