Hunger Free Campaign Caravan Reaches more Regions

 The hunger fee campaign caravan is continuing its tour of regions in the country. The caravan, which started at the West Field Junction on Wednesday 15th October 2008, has series of brief meetings along the route. The hunger free campaign caravan officials includes staff from Action Aid, NAYAFS, ADWAC, NAWFA, journalists, National Assembly Members and international participants. The caravan is being led by a police escort throughout the tour and had its first regional meeting in Kerewan in the North Bank Region.

Addressing the meeting, Mrs. Jainaba Nyang Njie, Action Aid Women's Right's Manager, said that Action Aid had observed that women in The Gambia are hard working but face serious constraints in having access to land and farm inputs. She expressed the need for women to have access to enough land and own it permanently.

For his part, Eduwarr Seckan, Governor North Bank Region, assured women in the region of enough farmland. He however encouraged them to develop the lands whenever given.

Aji Konteh Sanneh, Aji Say Panneh and Aji Wuri Bah of Fass Chawo, Ker Gumbo and Waya Woto respectively lamented the numerous challenges faced by women in accessing land and in developing them. They appealed for more fertilizer, tractors and other farm implements.

Meanwhile, on the same day a brief meeting was held in Farafenni were women farmers expressed similar sentiments.

On Thursday, day two of the tour took the caravan to Central River Region where a series brief meetings was held along the route before another regional meeting in Was CRR.

Speaking at the Was meeting, team leader Mrs. Jainaba Nyang Njie informed the gathering that the campaign is a global one which is aimed at creating awareness to reduce world hunger by half by 2015. According to her, over 20 countries around the world are taking part in the campaign.

Lamin Darboe, Deputy Governor CRR, hailed Gambian women for their hard work. He also reassured them of his office's support and co-operation.

Sima Sonko, president of NAWFA, stressed the need for women to have legal ownership over land.

For his part, Hon. Momodou Touray, National Assembly Member for Central Baddibu, assured women of the national assembly's full support.

Jainaba Jabby, women's leader from Kuntaur, said that women are hard working but lack the necessary support they need. She said that when given enough support they can end food crises in the country.

On Friday 17th October the Caravan reached Basse where another regional meeting was held. There too the Regional Governor Alh. Omar Khan applauded Gambian women for their hard work and reaffirmed government's commitment to empowering them. On the issue of land, the URR governor assured women of more land farm inputs.

Other speakers included Mrs. Mariama Jaw Councilor Basse Ward.

Regional Governors, Chiefs, women as well as other local authorities across the country are signing a petition banner which calls for women to have access to land and have legal ownership over them permanently and be given more support among other things. According to officials, this will be handed over to the speaker of the national assembly on the 21st of this month at a ceremony to be attended by the vice president and several other dignitaries.