Harvesting at President Jammeh’s farms in Kanila continued over the weekend and, as was expected, activities of the volunteers of the week were concentrated on the 8 km sorghum field that had seemed impossible to complete.

Completion of work at the Bonubore Forest Park became apparent when thousands of men and women from all works of life descended on it. Volunteers came mainly from the security forces; but there were others from the health sector, and some youth groups like the National Patriotic Students Association (NAPSA).

Staff of the department of state for Health and Social Welfare and Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital was conspicuous, as they turned up in their numbers for the exercise.

They were led by Dr Mariatou Jallow, SoS for Health and Social Welfare, who told reporters at the site that the health sector was seen as very key by the Gambian leader. And as such, Dr Jallow sees it as some sort of obligation for her department to be a part of the work.

She described the turn out of the volunteers as encouraging. And she spoke at length about the ambitious farming activities of Professor Jammeh, describing the Gambian leader as “an exemplary leader who has set a pace.”

Dr Jallow also delved on the significance of the concept of eat-what-you-grow. She argues that what one grows is the best food one can ever find. “Eating what you grow assures you of health,” Dr Jallow remarked, while calling on every Gambian to follow the footsteps of President Jammeh and venture into farming for the attainment of the country’s food self sufficiency drive.

Lt. Colonel Yankuba Drammeh, chief of army staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, who deputised for the chief of defence staff, said that accomplishment this task on the president’s farm had been a common objective of the entire security forces in the county. He hailed his men for their motivation in working, saying: “this is a manifestation of their loyalty to him [the president].”

The chief of army staff also hailed the culture of cohesion between the various security units in the country, indicating that the completion of the farm had been largely achieved because of the unity that exists among them.  

Colonel Drammeh’s statement also touched on the ability of the country to attain its food self-sufficiency drive. This, he said, will be very much eminent “if the current trend of farming activities continues.”  

Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force, Ensa Badjie, said that they [the security forces] had pledged to the president that they would do whatever it would take to clear the president’s farms of weed.  

The Gambian leader, he said, deserves support from not only the security forces, but also the entire citizenry, “wing to the fact that he is an exemplary leader who has brought numerous development prospects for his people. He emphasized on the need for the people to respond highly to the president’s call as they always end up being fruitful.

IGP Badjie maintained his position on loyalty to the president, warning that under his tenure as the Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force, disloyalty to the Head of State and his government will never be entertained. Ibrahima Bun Sanneh, the executive director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, described President Jammeh as a “God giving president to Gambians.” He urged all and sundry to follow his footsteps.

The acting commissioner general of The Gambia Revenue Authority, Bakary Sanyang, acknowledged government’s stance in averting food crisis in the country. He challenged the people to take active part as all what is being done is for everyone.

Paramount Chief Demba Sanyang was also among volunteers. He said The Gambia is on the verge to the attainment of food self-sufficiency. Ajie Jeck Cham, a prominent Gambian businesswoman, joined voices of wisdom in praising President Jammeh’s farming activities. She was in the middle of activities, serving the workers with food and water.

The coordinator of Kanilai Farms, Lt Seedy Baldeh, hailed the security forces and other volunteers for “relieving” them, expressing delight over the completion of a farm that had all along been a headache to them.  

Apart from the 8 km sorghum farm, many more cultivated pieces of lands belonging to the president remained untouched. And this was a fact the Kanilai farm coordinator was categorical in highlighting, pointing out that work was still pending at he president’s major rice fields. He appealed for more hands to complete all the work.

At the end of the harvesting exercise, the heaps of Sorghum were transported from the farm to the Kanilai festival ground, where officials of the Taiwanese Technical Mission were at hand, thrashing the produce for bagging.