The Daily Observer (Banjul)
11 November 2009
editorial
Banjul — The 2009/10 farming trade season is just at the corner admist a high level of preperation on the part of The Gambia Groundnut Cooperation. Shortly before the start of the planting operations, we have seen the ministry of Agriculture teaming up with international partners in providing farming incentives like more fertilizers to farmers, building several seed stores across the country, pest and insect repellants particularly sprays against locusts were also available, among others. This indicates that the government did not sit by to see this year's farming season come and pass in vain. It is obviously as a result of the high level of preparedness on the part of the government that our farming community is rejoicing over the prospects of a bumper harvest.
As a matter of fact, it is evident that developing The Gambia to become a self-reliant nation is one of the prime ambitions of President Jammeh. This can be explained by the fact that the leadership has realized that development cannot be achieved if we continue to depend on outsiders for our survival. His strong determination to materialize this goal, to that effect cannot be over emphasized. The back-to-the-land call is one among a catalogue of initiatives that are speaking for themselves in this respect. People must therefore be willing to become active agents in our collective development process. If there is massive response to the back-to-the-land call by the citizenry, much can be produced to feed the nation. This can further lay the foundation for a more efficient mode of production and distribution.
In fact, in making the the back-to-the-land call effective, the president has provided most if not all the pre-requisites to facilitate a booming agricultural venture. One of such pre-requisites is the construction of good feeder roads linking the main production areas to the markets in the urban centres. With good roads in place, farmers can plunge into large scale farming and hanker for more profit making. This is because market accessibility becomes easy for them. The more people we have on the field, the more the possibility for more productivity.
Reports emanating from the GGC expressing their level of preparedness to purchase grounhdnut therefore, illuminates the fact that the authorities tasked with the responsibility to administer our groundnut marketing are adjusting themselves to ensure the success of the season. What is even more facinating is the move by the GGC to clarify the purchase and selling of groundnut at the global market. Such an authentic information will go a long way in permiting our farmers understand how their produce is being purchased. Hence, farmers will see the benefit of their labour and above all see the value of their work. Last year's farming season was a great success. The move by GGC indicates history will be repeated. We should all join hands to support GGC to accomplish our agricultural endeavours. Remember the country is dependent on agriculture and groundnut contributes greatly to Gambia's foreign exchange earnings.
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