The people of Kombo North, led by the paramount chief, Alhaji Demba Sanyang, on Saturday, gathered at the district farm located at the outskirts of Brufut Village, to continue the work that began a few weeks ago.

More than 230 people, mainly youth and women, took part in tilling a portion of the farm, which has a total area of 500m X 400m. At least 150 people came from Bijilo alone, under the patronage of Pa Ousman Bojang, a nephew to President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh.

The farmers were drawn from all the four wards in Kombo North, including Yai Compins (women’s groups), accompanied by their councillors and Alkalolu

The farm is being used exclusively for the cultivation of the Nerika rice, which has  multiple comparative advantages over other varieties – such as drought resistance, high yield, early maturity and high quality.

Speaking in an interview with the Daily Observer at the farm, the Kombo North Chief, Demba Sanyang, who is the paramount chief of The Gambia, said the initiative was pioneered by President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, who gave the directive for the creation of district farms for this year’s cropping season.

Paramount Chief Sanyang said this directive is being pursued in each of the districts in the country, adding that the  ‘back to the land’ call has been sung by the president since he took over the reins of power 13 years ago.

"He wants us to take our destiny into our own hands. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, the entire chiefdom is doing something. Some are growing maize, millet, etc. We are determined to attain food self-sufficiency," the paramount chief said.

He told the Daily Observer that the post-harvest proceeds from the farm would go back to the people for their own development. He then thanked Pa Ousman Bojang and Amadou Samba, a renowned Gambian businessman, for their support to the cause.

Ebrima Cham, the manager of the farm, paid tribute to the president for his visionary leadership. According to Cham, the president saw the necessity for people to go back to the land many years ago, before the world was entangled with the scarcity in food supplies and a seemingly unending surge in global food prices.

Mr Cham disclosed that they would harvest the rice in the next three months and assured the president that by Allah’s will, they would emerge as the most outstanding district during the harvesting season.

Ebra Faal, the councillor for Sukuta Ward, stressed the importance of the farm to the socio-economic development of the country, adding that both the produce and the proceeds would go back to the people.

Both Yankuba Jatta, the Alkalo of Bijilo and Aji Ya Awa Jallow, welcomed the move, saying that "we are not  doing this for anyone, because the benefits come to the people themselves at the end of the day".

Other speakers included Modou Jah, a youth mobiliser from Bijilo, Aji Rohey Touray, chairperson for Kombo North and Aji Binta Sanneh, women mobiliser for the district.