‘The Gambia’s Drive Towards Attaining Food Self-Sufficiency Achievable’

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Yusupha Bojang

30 May 2011

Foni — The governor of the West Coast Region, Alhaji Lamin Sanneh, has said that The Gambia’s drive towards attaining food self-sufficiency and mechanized agriculture is achievable.

He made this remark recently during an interview with this reporter at his office in Brikama, after the recent donation of 22 tractors to his region by the Gambian leader. Governor Sanneh described President Jammeh’s donation as timely, noting that it came at a time when the country is intensifying efforts towards the attainment of food self-sufficiency, as well as to mechanize agriculture.

“We have one or two more months to go into the rainy season and with these tractors, I can say that the president has reduced the burden on us [farmers]. We cannot claim to be fully independent if we depend on imported produce,” he stated.

According to him, the donation has made it easier for people to answer to the president’s back-to-the-land call, to counter the high dependency on imported food, as well as to be self-sufficient in food production. He underscored the importance of the donation, saying that it will help them grow what they ‘eat and eat what they grow’.

The regional governor also called on Gambians to cherish President Jammeh’s back-to-the-land call for the rapid attainment of the MDGs and Vision 2020 blue print.

Sanneh thanked the president for the gesture on behalf of his people, while promising that the tractors will be utilized efficiently and that tangible maintenance measures will be put in place.

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