He added that he would also provide electricity to Njau village and its environs in two years.
These responses came amid several demands by communities with similar concerns with needs for health facilities, road constructions and electricity supply among others.
President Barrow was speaking on Tuesday night at a joint meeting by Lower, Upper Saloum and Nianija constituencies held at Njau community in the Central River Region in his ongoing Meet the People’s Tour – an annual constitutionally required nationwide tour.
However, President Barrow states that it’s good for politicians to be vocal, but equally significant to effect good work for the people, saying that a guaranteed politic is the one with national interest.
With regard to the attainment of food self-sufficiency, he urged farmers of these communities to cultivate not only sufficient rice but with early millet (coos), noting that since the establishment of The Gambia, the nation has never imported millet for consumptions. “This is because early millet and late millet were sufficiently grown.” He added that the same should be done for rice.
He urged farmers to keep their produce. However, he added that in case they finally decide to sell their produce, they can sell them to the government.
He said that his government would reserve these produce in case the farmers would need to buy them for consumption due to unforeseen circumstances.
He further informed farmers that currently there are nations that have already stopped food export to other countries due to the current world crisis. According to him, The Gambia should take similar steps to avoid food shortages.
As President Barrow encouraged communities to collectively strive for common national interest, he also assured them that he would continue to work for the nation even beyond his presidential term. He advised communities to overcome their differences and collectively pursue national developments.
At similar meetings in Niani and Sami constituencies in Central River Region, President Barrow promised to redouble his efforts in providing their needs.
Similarly, the president earlier on Wednesday conducted site visits to the Trans-Gambia Highway in Farafenni, the NBR Roads Project Lot 1 in Sabach Sanjal, NBR Roads Projects Lot 2 in Kaur Jimbala and the NBR Roads Project Lot 2 in Kerr Auldi-Nyanga Bantang communities.
Meetings are set to continue from Kantora and Tumana constituencies to be held Chamoi and Basse and Jimara.
