The State House mosque committee, last Sunday, embarked on massive farming of their groundnut and coos at a farm located behind the Yundum Army barracks.

The move was in answer to President Jammeh’s back-to-the-land call aimed at alleviating poverty in The Gambia

Speaking at the farm, the Amir of the State House mosque, Sergeant Sainey Camara underscored that the main motive behind their farming is to reduce the importation of food items in The Gambia.  

Going back to the land, according to Sergeant Camara, is the only way for The Gambia to attain food-self sufficiency.

"The President himself is farming," he said . According to him, the proceeds of the farm will be given as charity to  disabled families and the vulnerable.

Sergeant Camara called on young people to go back to the land to eradicate hunger for the attainment of food-self sufficiency in The Gambia.

For his part, Alieu Mbaye, the State House mosque committee farm manager also highlighted that their going back to the land is to help the needy people.

Mr Mbaye disclosed that the harvests from the farm will be distributed amongst the sick people at hospitals and with a special share for the president’s HIV/AIDS patients. The rest, according to Mr Mbaye, will be used at Islamic ceremonies.

Other speakers at the farm included Sergeant Lamin Sanneh, Imam Dr Mbaye Kebbah Kah, Imam Seedia Ceesay, Imam Mustapha Jallow, Imam Alieu Bittay and Imam Abdoulie Fatty .