Gambia: Bravo, BAC

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Daily Observer

23 June 2011

editorial

We wish to commend the Brikama Area Council (BAC) for making a financial contribution towards the cultivation of youth farms in the West Coast Region (WCR). This development, which is the first of its kind by a local council shows BAC’s commitment to complementing the efforts of President Jammeh in the achievement of the country’s food self-sufficiency aspirations.

It is certain that the country is endowed with vast arable land for agriculture. We also have a youthful populace that has the capacity as well as the potentials to till the land for food production. More importantly, we have a leader who has the desire to transform this country into an agro-based food self-sufficient nation. Suffice to say, a.griculture plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic transformation of every society, whether directly or indirectly. The more vibrant the agricultural sector of a society is, the easier it attains development. The sector provides the people with both food and income, which are major requirements for social progress.

This reality is what prompted President Jammeh to initiate the back-to-the-land scheme in the first place, so that The Gambia is able to feed itself and to enhance its march towards sustainable development. BAC’s contribution to the cultivation of youth farms in WCR will no doubt go a long way in complementing that aspiration. It also speaks volumes about how much the council cares for the youth. With the financial contribution, the young people of the region can purchase the additional farm inputs required, and maximise the production capacity of the farms. Also, after harvest, the revenue generated can be invested into development programmes, the resultant effect of which has the potential to improve the wellbeing and standard of living of the youth.

While we call on the youth of WCR to make best use of the funds provided by BAC and sacrifice their time and energy to ensure that the next farming season is successful, we also wish to urge the other local government authorities to emulate BAC and contribute to the success of the farming season in their respective administrative areas. The councils should know at all times that transforming The Gambia into a food self-sufficient nation is at the core of President Jammeh’s aspirations. This explains why he did not merely initiate the back-to-the-land scheme as a slogan, but went a step further, through leading by example for others to follow. We should therefore uphold his deeds in order to achieve our common goal.

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