I am glad that farmers in the country are beginning to affirm themselves.
They are speaking out and if they are not heard, my friends, we may see half
of them just grow food for their own consumption, or take to the streets and
I cannot guarantee you the aftermath. When either option happens, I do want
to hear hungry folks or folks that could not go to work to scrape a living
come here to cry over our shoulders. I guarantee you, you will not be
heard, wailing and all. Hopefully, the road to liberation for our farmers
has begun. Please read on.
Chi Jaama
Joe Sambou
Groundnut Issues: Farmers Voice Out Their Concern On Govt’s Failed Promise
Once again it was the groundnut issue that was on the spot light with the
farmers themselves narrating their plight on credit buying over Radio I FM’s
Sunday newshours moderated by Seedy Ceesay and monitored by this reporter
last weekend. Four farmers drawn from three of the five administrative areas
in the country were at the studios of the said radio, namely Alagie Karamo
Faati of Central Badibu in the NBD, Alhajie Suntu Darboe of Nuimi Lamin also
in the NBD, Alagie Burama Sagnia from the Upper River Division and one
Alajie Jerry from Fulladu in the central River Division.
According to Karamo Faati, all the youths in their area have abandonned
farming and travelled to the Greater Banjul Area as a result of the failure
to market their groundnuts leading to their frustration. When asked as to
the statement made by the government that all the monies owned to the
farmers were being paid, Mr. Faati in replied said he being an oldman of 70
years would not at a public forum like the radio say anything that is not
true or baseless. He further explained that whenever the president is on his
annual meet the people’s tour, they would only allow APRC supporters to
speak about their plight and these people always choose to be silent about
it to feign their total loyalty to Jammeh . “We are here for Allah and for
you.
For me, I only blame my fellow farmers for our problems as they failed to
voice them out’’. On the issue of President Jammeh’s donation of tractors,
Mr. Faati claimed that these tractors are only used for APRC women rice
fields and are never seen in any farms owned by men. He finally called on
the government to have a clear cut plan for the farmers well before the
rainy season starts. Burama Sagnia of URD said be cannot abandon farming
because it is the only livelihood he has but added that this government is
totally disappointing them for not providing or facilitating reliable
markets for their groundnuts. For him, he could not have his money for his
groundnuts.
“ Koriteh came and passed, tabaski came and passed and I even had to borrow
money here and there to pay for my child’s school fees. Myself and my family
depend on coos for our meals as we don’t have money to buy a bag of rice.
“Almost everyday they would tell us that our money would come. I would then
ride my bicycle to the secco only to be asked to come the following day.”
According to Sagnia, he and others had to go and sell their groundnuts
across the border to the local lumos. Suntu Darboe of Nuimi Lamin said, he
decided to grow only coos last year because of the frustration he
encountered trying to receive money for his groundnut. According to Alagie
Jerry, although he stays with farmers, his job is purely business which does
not allow him to stay one place therefore he would not know whether farmers
received their money or not.
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