Scores of volunteers from the Lower and Central River Regions are this weekend expected to descend on the farms belonging  to the head of state and number one farmer, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh Nasirul Deen Babili Mansa.

This was confirmed to the Daily Observer by the Operations and Logistics manager of Kanilai Farms, Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh.

The volunteers, who are expected to take part in a weeding exercise, are said to be responding to the broad appeal launched last week by President Jammeh for more hands on his farms with a view to rescuing the crops from weeds that are overtaking them.

Hon. Ebrima Solo Jammeh, also the National Assembly member for Foni Bondali, said the volunteers will clear weeds on President Jammeh’s groundnut and millet farms in Kanilai. 

“Since after the launched of the appeal by the president, responses increased day by day as hundreds of volunteers from the Foni continued to descend on the various farms belonging to the president, in a show of solidarity,” he indicated. 

He continued: “We have confirmed the participation of the people of Kiang West and Jarra East Districts of the Lower River Region. They will start work today Friday through Monday. So the call made by the president will strengthen the one we already made to them. The size of the group doesn’t matter, what matters is their output  at the end of the day; because if you look at the number of people that are here today and value the amount of work they did, you wouldn’t believe it. 

This is purely voluntary work, everybody is doing the work at their own will, and they are happily participating as a way of showing solidarity with the president. The president as chief executive officer of the country is just there to guide us through in his declaration for the Vision 2016 agenda, but for us to achieve our development aspirations, all hands should be on deck. “Let us practicalise the vision and  the back-to-the-land call, join hands together and till the soil,” he said.

It could be recalled that the president last weekend launched a broad appeal for Gambians to render more support on his farms in a bid to save them from weeds.

Speaking to reporters  shortly after inspecting and working on his farms, where thousands of volunteers had joined him, the president said he has observed that weeds have almost overtaken some areas. 

“So we need help in these areas. I am appealing to Gambians to come and help. My special appeal would go to the people of the Central River and Upper River Regions. I want them to come and assist me to weed because beyond this week, it is going to be difficult for me; the grass has almost over taken the cone,” the president observed.

He emphasized that work is urgent on these farms and that he would prefer interventions now towards next week.  “I am not limiting the call to only CRR and URR, but will also want West Coast Region, Lower and North Bank Regions to give a helping hand as well,” he indicated.

He used that opportunity to commend the resident refugees and the people of Foni Bondali for their assistance.  He also thanked the people of CRR for always coming in their large numbers to support him on his farms in their region. 

“I definitely owed these people a debt of gratitude and one thing I can assure them  is that they are not going to buy food from now to December,” he pledged.