Security forces storm President’s farms

As more people continue to descend on Kanilai in support of the president’s farming initiative, harvesting at the Gambian leader’s farms continue to gain momentum.

Last weekend’s harvest (the 7th week in to harvesting) saw a large turnout as personnel from the various security units in the country, (GAF, NIA, Police, NDEA, Prisons, Immigration, and the Fire Service) headed by their respective service chiefs, descended on the Bunubore forest park, to work on the president’s 8-km Sorghum farm.

Speaking to journalists at the work site, Major General Lang Tombong Tamba, Chief of Defence Staff of The Gambia Armed Forces, hailed the president’s initiative of putting agriculture at the centre stage of the development process.

Major General Tamba believes that Gambians should not even wait to be called to support the president’s efforts "to propel Gambia into food self-sufficiency," as the proceeds of the farms go back to the average Gambian people.

He assured that the security forces of the country would not rest on their laurels until and unless they finish harvesting the Kanilai farms “for the benefit of all Gambians.” He called on all Gambians to answer to the president’s call and go back to the land in order to attain the country’s food self-sufficiency dream.

For his part, Ensa Badjie, Inspector General of The Gambia Police Force,  expressed delight at the work on the president’s farm. The Gambia Police Force alone, he revealed, had over 1500 police officers working on the farm. According to IGP Badjie, the Police Force will visit Kanilai every weekend to help the president in harvesting his farms "until when harvesting is completed."

He used the opportunity to call on members of the country’s Police Force to maintain their loyalty to the president and the nation. IGP Badjie also hailed the collaboration of all the security services in the country.

Ibrahim Bun Sanneh, Executive Director of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA), also commended President Jammeh for his efforts ensuring a food self-sufficient Gambia in the shortest possible time.

Bun Sanneh also spoke at length on the collaboration that existed among the security forces of this country.  He promised that the security forces would finish harvesting the Bunbore forest park’s Sorghum farm.

Lt. Col. Gibril Bojang, commanding officer Kanilai camp, recalled that after the clearing of the 8km Bunubore Forest Park, the president of the Republic of The Gambia, Profess for his advice as to what to cultivate on the land.  

He said that the President had advised them in favour of sorghum, which he said has produced a good yield.  He commended President Jammeh for his hard work and called on Gambians to help in harvesting.

Lamin Sanneh, governor of Western Region, expressed delight at the large turnout. He said that he was delighted at playing host to "this agricultural revolution," calling on other Gambians to join the crusade.

According to Governor Sanneh, the proceeds of these farming activities would be ploughed back to the country’s development endeavours. He pointed out that President Jammeh had spent thousands of dollars in providing scholarship for Gambian students in and outside the country.
 
For his part, Lt. Seedy Baldeh, coordinator of the Kanilai farms, commended the security forces for responding to the president’s appeal. He noted that the massive response by the security forces would reduce the burden of harvesting at the farm, as they have done a lot of the harvesting in the Bunubore forest park in Kanilai.

Lt. Baldeh also revealed that the response by the security forces is part of a demonstration of their commitment to President Jammeh’s farming initiatives as well as to the progress of the nation.

The security forces also worked on the Sesame farm at the Bunubore forest park, while the Police Wives Association and Tallinding Arabic School were also spotted working on another part of the president’s farm in the forest park.