A
young farmer, Lamin F. Fatty said farming makes him feel better and he is proud
to be a farmer.
Fatty
is a third-year student at The Gambia College School of Agriculture, pursuing
advanced diploma in agricultural science.
The
young farmer stressed that the new generation of farmers in the country need
help to realize their potentials.
The
25-year-old is undoubted that with the necessary help, he could meet his
targets in the country, where farmers are the poorest of the poor.
“But
in other parts of the world, farmers are the richest,” he noted, before
rhetorically asking, “but why not here?”
The
young farmer explained that he’s engaging in farming because to him, it’s a
noble profession like any other profession.
“I
choose to study agriculture and to become a farmer because it is my passion
since I was in the high school; and here I’m,” Fatty said.
He
further indicated that young farmers need support to boost the country’s
agricultural sector-which is still under-developed.
The
Agricultural Science student; “our agricultural sector is under zero
development and agriculture is said to be the backbone of The Gambia. So, there
is a need to help those engaged in the sector to boost it.”
The
former public relations officer of the College Students Union recalled that he
started gardening at the Gambia College in 2016 and last year, he planted 50 different plants in the campus.
He
is currently having over five hundred different plant species, which he said,
he wanted to sell in order to pay for his tuition fees.
“I
want to sell these plants to pay my tuition fees, and I hope it will work,” the
young determined farmer who revealed that lack of support is affecting the
realization of his potentials as a young farmer said.
“I
can do more than this. I could have produced more paw paw, avocados and oranges
if I have the support.”
He
said he wants to have his own plot of land to farm and make money, and also
employ other Gambians, urging that anyone who can help him in that regards, the
person is most welcome.
The
young agriculturist intimated that the different varieties of plants he has in
his garden are good species, adding that he is using organic materials to
improve their quality.
“In
using waste materials, you also keep the environment clean,” he said.
Fatty
use a system of tying bottles above
nursery beds with holes to allow
water to drop on the plants.
The
young gardener is using this unusual method of “irrigation”, because, as he
pointed out, he lacks support.
“I
have lot of plants that need to be transplanted but I don’t have the money to
buy the plastic bags they should be put in. Just these days, I bought over
hundred bags, but that wasn’t enough to transplant all my plants,” he decried.
