Malanding, you forget the more 1000 strong Mourid Talibehs that decend on Yaya's farms each year and the exchange of our resources between the Yaya and the Khalif General. 
"In short how can this model be replicated across the country? From what I know, most farmers are aware of the high costs involved and certainly understand that the KFF model is beyond their means.  As such why do we think that just talking about food independence, without addressing the basics of lack of resources would ever make a difference."
Malanding, please consider the target for that information. Yaya will continue to say the above and more ridiculous statements as long as he can say them without any consequence to him. As long as our people are more forcused in what they can get from Yaya, he will continue to play us. The more Yaya promises the hungrier our people get and the poorer they become. That is why we must put an end to our misery. Kanilai Family Farms is run at a tremendous loss. It continues to operate from stolen resources and coerced and reluctant contributors. Even those who pretend to support Yaya know that our country is a mess. Read my lips, all these folks you see paying lip service to Yaya today will be the same faces you will see to sing from a different script when Yaya tumbles. A good chunk were seen around Jawara as Jawara was serenaded with DK Sabare. Thus, it is not only enough that we get rid of Yaya, but to also turn our ethics upside down. The latter is what the many opportunists abound fear the most. For that reason, they will double their efforts to aid Yaya to continue to his natural life and grow old with them for that is their only salvation. As we write, thousands of families are living a starvation diet as Yaya continues to lie about food self sufficiency.
Joe   Date: Wed, 14 Nov 2012 14:11:06 -0500
From: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [G_L] Food Independence need more than just talk
To: [log in to unmask]


  

    
  
  
    

    Gambia's population 2012 ~1.7million 

    Total cropland area: ~300,000 ha about 150,000 ha for  food crops 

    Divide cropland area among each Gambian (Per capita cropland area) -
    0.17 ha or 42 meters by 42 meters 

    Crop yield under rain-fed conditions 800kg per ha. This translates
    to 136 kg of food per person even if we grow only food crops ( i.e
    no groundnuts or cotton anywhere)

    Post-harvest loss estimated between 10 and 40% . Assuming the 20%
    loss, at best each Gambian will take home 108kg of millet/rice per
    year. 2 "senkant" bags

    

    With the above numbers, can Gambians attain food independence? Is
    the Kanilai Family Farm (KFF) the model to emulate? 

    

    Given that the President's Farm / Kanilai Family Farm is such an
    anomaly in terms of access to resources, i.e land, labor and
    capital, its hard to imagine how the ordinary farmer can benefit
    from KFF model.

    

    First according to published records the Kanilai Family Farms
    holdings include - In Kanilai area  - 197ha,  Sifoe 423ha, Farato
    37ha, Jurunku more than 20 ha - total 658ha plus 20 to 30 small
    farms across the country

    

    During 2012 growing season alone we were told that -

    Global International Football Training Services  GIFTS donated 200
    pairs of rainboots

    300 youths from the Dynamic Sarahulleh Association helped clear the
    farm in July,

    2000 youths countrywide  participated in weeding the  President
    Jammeh’s Kanilai Farms September 2012.

    100 volunteers from the State House Mosque at the President's Yundum
    Farm

    Help by civil servants and others

    

    In addition to free labor, how many of the President's farm use
    tractors? How many of these are fueled and serviced by voluntary
    contributions? How many of these volunteers pay for their
    transportation to Kanilai, pay for their own food while in Kanilai?
    We know that some of the problems faced by farmers are inadequate
    inputs (water, fertilizer, machinery, labor), how much of the
    President's farm is rainfed and how much is irrigated. If irrigated
    how much does it cost per unit product? 

    

    As for on-farm loss, we know that the Kanilai Family Farm is able to
    build 2 meter cement / steel fence around most of their farms with
    24/7 protection from security. 

    

    In short how can this model be replicated across the country? From
    what I know, most farmers are aware of the high costs involved and
    certainly understand that the KFF model is beyond their means.  As
    such why do we think that just talking about food independence,
    without addressing the basics of lack of resources would ever make a
    difference. 

    

    Malanding Jaiteh

    

    

    courtesy
    http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/towards-food-independence-1

    Towards food independence
    Africa » Gambia
    
      Wednesday, November 14, 2012
      
        Editorial
        Over the
          past weeks, we have seen people from all walks of life,
          professional men and
          women of all ages, going to Kanilai Farms in order to
          participate in farm work.
          The common determination they've shown constitutes a clear
          indication that
          Gambians are not only ready to tackle the global food crisis
          that has hit most
          of the underdeveloped countries, but also to contribute to the
          country's food
          independence.
        What we
            need now is to translate the individuals' implicit
            understanding into a
            positive synergy capable of propelling The Gambia towards
            becoming a food
            self-sufficient nation.
        As the
          back-to-the-land-call has become stronger and more widely
          accepted, there is an
          enormous opportunity to change the status of the country from
          food importer to
          food exporter. It is a great challenge for Gambians to follow
          the footsteps of
          President Jammeh, who has demonstrated that the way forward is
          to ensure the
          country's food independence.
        The Gambian leader's attitude is worthy of
            emulation by Gambians, as no country can retain genuine
            independence if it
            cannot protect its citizens from hunger.It is therefore high
            time to move towards food independence for Gambians
            and Gambian households. What is taking place at theKanilai
            Farms
        projects
              optimistic perspectives for our beloved country.
              Consequently, we should adopt
              such an agricultural model so as to start recasting the
              food crisis. Gambians have made their choice; their
            daily
            survival can no longer depend on the vagaries of volatile
            international
            markets.
      
      Author: Daily Observer
    
    

  

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