Libya, Gambia push for more agricultural ties as ten tractors arrive

"The Gambia and the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya will continue to push for more agricultural ties that will also strengthen the already existing bilateral relationship between Banjul and Tripoli in the coming years" says Salim Muhammad, the head of delegation of the Pan-African Mechanical Agricultural Programme. Mr. Salim Muhammed is in Banjul to donate 10 tractors with a complete set of accessories to the government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Agriculture.

The launch of the Pan-African Mechanical Agricultural Programme(Green Programme) in The Gambia for the season will be held today at Makumbaya village with a demonstration exercise to be carried out by the Libyan tractor drivers who will in turn share their knowledge with their Gambian counterparts.

The tractors, according to officials, will be here in The Gambia as part of the Green Programme run by the Bureau of the Great Socialist Libyan Jamhiriya in Banjul.

As part of the programme, the Libyan Embassy in The Gambia invited members of media fraternity to view and have first hand information on the arrival of the new tractors.

The tractors are with drivers from Libya that will be in Banjul to train their Gambian counterparts during the demonstration.

In a brief interview with reporters yesterday, Mr. Muhammad said this new consignment of tractors would not only help farmers, but also boost agricultural ties with the brotherly nations. He stated that they are motivated by the clarion call of President Jammeh for people to go back-to-the-land. This call, he added, is geared towards ensuring food self-sufficiency drive.

He hailed the fruitful relationship between Banjul and Tripoli, noting that it would grow from strength to strength.