GARDENERS IN NORTH BANK CRY FOR STRAY ANIMALS AND LACK OF CUSTOMERS TO BUY THEIR FARM PRODUCT

Farmers in NBR are increasing the size of their farms which they were compelled in the past to deliberately shrink because they lacked input and motivation. (Photo Credit: Ousman A. Marong)

By Ousman A. Marong

The clarion call by the Hon Minister Omar Jallow alies Oj Minister of Agriculture that as many Gambia’s as possible must join in food production reminiscent of the days of The Gambia founding father Sir Dawda k. Jawaras operation Feed Yourself has caught up.

Farmers in NBR are increasing the size of their farms which they were compelled in the past to deliberately shrink because they lacked input and motivation.

The coalition government has slashed fertilizer price by fifty percent.

Heeding the Hon Ministers call, resident in NBR are using every available space for the cultivation of cassava, fruits and vegetable, but these efforts are being eroding by stray domestic animals and pests.

Manyima Manneh from Nuimi Bakindic gave her voice to the authorities especially to the Agriculture Minister saying if government cannot provider enough fertilizer and pest control to both farmers and gardeners, what is the guarantee that if one tills the land as encourage by the minister of Agriculture, stray animals will allow the crops to reach maturity and investing?

Maimuna Mboob on the other hand said, “The destructive effectives by stray animal have reached unmanageable proportion”.

Ousman Mboob a retired and now a pest controller helping women gardeners in Nuimi Bakindic said MOFA should supply communities and districts with more pesticide for them to spray their gardens; this is because the earth worms are destroying crops in their garden” we need the contribution of all in the governments efforts at boosting crop production”

In this regard the national assembly should cooperate and collaborate with the residents association under their jurisdiction. Extension workers should also visit the residential areas to advice and assist gardeners. However gardeners in NBR are crying for lack of customers to buy their farm product.