Gambian Farmers Reject Jammeh’s Fertilizer!!!

…Farmers Dissatisfied With the Way Gov’t Handles The Agriculture Industry

By Staff Writer Ansumana Jammeh, Banjul

Banjul:7/17/08- Farmers in the North, Central, Lower, Upper and Western region talking to Freedom Newspaper on Thursday 17 June, have expressed reluctance and anxiety in taking the fertilizer being given to them by the Jammeh administration on loan. Presently, the Department of state for Agriculture, where Jammeh appointed himself as the secretary of state for Agriculture,  has started giving out fertilizer to farmers across the country on loan basis with conditions of being an APRC supporter.

    However, farmers in the country have expressed their fears that taking fertilizer on a loan basis could be disastrous, given the failed system of government and leader who has no regard for  human right, and the precarious and unpredictable nature of the farming season now.

    The farmers argued that if they were to experience crop failure, then paying back the loan would place a huge burden on them.

      However, this dismay and reluctance, on the part of the farmers, to take loans has been the result of their downbeat assessment of the farming season which is partly triggered by their fear of a looming menace of pest and insect infestation.

      Speaking to the Freedom Stringer on behalf of the farmers,Ousman Samusa who resides in Kerewan, admits that they are in desperate need of fertilizer and pesticides, but they dare not to take these essential inputs on a loan basis due to their skepticism regarding the prospects of this farming season which, he said does not look bright.

       The Gambian farmers said that the previous farming season, it all came to nothing as the last groundnut trade season ended up in a complete shamble.

        Samusa's comments were echoed by many farmers in the country. Gambian farmers and non-farmers all agreed that incentives should be given to farmers with a view to attracting people to farming.

   But ordinary Gambians cautioned that Jammeh administration does not encourage to farm, and the sector has been abandoned.