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Youth and Sports Minister tours youth farms, sporting facilities

Dec 1, 2014, 11:08 AM | Article By: Adama K. Jallow

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Alieu Kebba Jammeh, has affirmed government commitment to help farmers achieve their goal in the 2016 food self-sufficiency agenda.

The Youth and Sports Ministers was speaking at the beginning of a five-day nationwide tour to visit youth farms and sporting facilities across the regions of the country.

Minister’s nationwide tour was aimed at enhancing and to intensify the current campaign in mobilizing young people to take ownership of the President Jammeh’s 2016 agenda.

It was also meant to avail the opportunity to inspect the ongoing refurbishment and rehabilitation projects currently taking place in the regional sporting facilities.

Places visited included the ongoing rehabilitation and refurbishment of recreational centers such as the Farafenni Mini Stadium, Kuntaur Mini Stadium and Bansang Youth Center among others.

This was followed by a D500,000 cash injection for their rehabilitations provided by the Gambia government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

Despite challenges faced by farmers, the Minister was informed that farmers have benefited from farm equipments, such as tractors, which were distributed by the head of state to the various regions in youth farms.

In his dialogue-tour with beneficiary youth farms and heads of settlements in the regions, Minister Jammeh acknowledged the efforts of youth associations for their positive response to the President’s back to the land call to “grow what you eat” and “eat what you grow” for their sustainability and 2016 agenda.

On requests for some inputs such as fertilizer, sufficient seeds and sale of their farm produce, Minister Jammeh informed them that the Gambia government through his ministry would make all efforts in ensuring that their requests are met.

The National Enterprise Development Initiative (NEDI) General Manager, Landing Sanneh, informed and assured farmers of his institution’s stance to help youth in their various and respective endeavors.

He assured farmers of the successful marketing of their farm produce, while revealing their cordial collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture.