Harvesting of the various farms of the president, His Excellecny Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh within the Fonis is on course with government institutions, voluntary associations as well as local groups and even groups from the Senegalese northern region of Casamance, taking their turn in helping in the harvesting, over the weekend.

This year's farming season is anticipated by many, including President Jammeh himself to be a year of bumper harvest both on his farms and other farms in the country. Speaking to reporters at the site, the deputy minister of Agriculture, Momodou S Kah said "I am indeed impressed with this year's farming season". He said despite lot of efforts done towards the enhancement and development of the agriculture sector, there is still more efforts needed from Gambians. According to Deputy Minister Kah, having a farm alone do not make any impact but its cultivation is what is important. While commending the volunteers and government institutions, Kah appealed for more people to come and help the president in harvesting his various farms.

Nyeffi farm This farm is located at the President's home village of Kanilai where different varieties of rice including Nerica are grown. There, staff of the SOS Children?s Village, National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) and students and staff of Gambia College assembled to harvest the rice.

In the words of Amadou Bah, NAWEC's Human Resource director, who led the staff to Kanilai, Gambians should stand by President Jammeh and help him in his strive to eliminate hunger through agriculture. He commended President Jammeh for his back-to-the-land call saying this is a worthy call which if Gambians willingly answer to, will make positive impact. Staff of the Social Security and Housing Finance Cooperation (SSHFC) were also at the president's farms harvesting the long grain rice grown by a women?s group from Kanilai called Zeinab Jammeh Cultural Group.

The Acting managing director of SSHFC, Edward Graham, said they were in Kanilai to help the president in harvesting because they are aware of the development he is registering in the country, of which agriculture plays a leading role. "The yields from these farms do not go to the president?s pocket," Graham said.

Bujinga farmThis is the home village of President Jammeh's mother situated some two kilometres west of Kanilai. On this farm too rice is being harvested. Many who spoke to the Daily Observer at the ground were unanimous in their appeal for more hands in the Bujinga farm. Despite the large number of people that arrived on the farm on Saturday to harvest the rice, Deputy Agriculture Minister Kah appealed for more voluntary associations and institutions to offer immediate help in order to prevent the rice from spoiling.Harvesting on President Jammeh's farms both in the Foni and other regions of the country continues to gain success.