The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Hatab Fadera
11 November 2009
Banjul — The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh has expressed profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to the enthusiastic volunteers both within and outside the country for the hard work they rendered in harvesting his farms as part of efforts to rescue the crops from destruction.
The president's remark, which was monitored on the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) last Monday evening, came following his earlier appeal for more hands on his farms; a call that hundreds of volunteers both within and outside the country responded to. Mourid's response Reiterating his commendation to various volunteers, Professor Jammeh expressed his gratitude to the Khalif General of Maurid in Touba, Senegal, Serign Momodou Lamin Barra Mbackeh for responding to his appeal by mobilising the Maurid Islamic students in the country to harvest his farms.
The Maurids, according to the president have done a lot on his farms, indicating that they have harvested all the ripe crops on his Farato, Siffoe, and Darsilami farms to his surprise. He said the Maurids even wanted to travel to Kanilai the same day that they harvested those farms, but he had to ask them to choose another convenient date considering the time of the day and the journey to Kanilai. The move by the Maurids, according to him, demonstrated a good example of neighbourliness noting that it is in line with the teachings and principles of the Islamic faith as the religion is all about assisting each other.
Appeal President Jammeh then appealed for more hands on his farms so as to prevent the crops from destruction. According to President Jammeh, what has been harvested on his farms is only 25 percent. "I reiterate my gratitude to you (volunteers), but I will still appeal for more hands on my farms so that I can get my crops out of the fields," he said.
He observed that most of the crops on his farms are due for harvest with others expected for harvest very soon. "If you are starting cultivation, you seek for God's blessings for the crops to grow well. That prayer has been answered by the Almighty Allah as all the crops are well grown. So if you cannot get those crops out of the fields is a disaster," stated the president. "The rice is ripe," he continued, "and are drying in the fields, the groundnuts are ripe and are also drying in the fields, even millet and coos are all due.
In a week to come, the sesame is expected to be due for harvest, and this particular crop is one that if you don't harvest at the right time, it splits and pours on the ground? he further noted. He called on the regional governors and other facilitators to give them early notice so as to provide them with vehicles on time, as well as to confirm to them how many people will be travelling to Kanilai and the days that they will spend.
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