Yero S. Bah
Born in Baddibu Illiassa, North Bank Region, the young Alagie Karamo Jammeh, migrated to the Kombo metropolis in 2001 with his sick mother, in order to find medical attention. Unfortunately, his mother could not survive the illness due to financial constraints, as per Alagie Karamo’s own explanation to Mansa Banko Online.
It’s Alagie Karamo’s mother who showed him the ropes (in farming) back when he was in his childhood, and through farming, he said he was able to pay for his school expenses right from Grades 4-9. He dropped out of school at the latter grade due to lack of tuition fees as he progressed into the costly education system of the country.
His words, “My mother passed away due to lack of financial help for medical treatment in 2001.” Jammeh disclosed that he usually seeks unconstructed [empty] spaces to cultivate crops as he used to run one such farming activity in Kanifing Estate and other areas within the Kombos.
He, however, laments that getting a space in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) is now harder, thus hampering his farming adventure, adding he couldn’t get a permanent land to continue his farming activities. Jammeh said he moved from Kanifing Estate to Busumbala village since 2004 but he’s still facing similar challenges regarding access to space for crop cultivation, in order to survive the situation.
As Alagie Karamo indicated to this medium, he’s incessantly seeking for any possible help in this regard because his entire focus is on farming. He added, “I used to rent lands to do my farming from which I paid my school fees up to grade nine.”
In a chilling tone, he reasoned that he focuses on farming because he wants to get better education; describing education as a key to success and that farming too, is equally important to him since he has no other help, after the demise of his mother.
“My mum was my only helper. Now she is gone, I am alone,” he sadly remarked. The young farmer underlined that farming is of vital importance to him as he must stand for himself and focus on farming for his livelihood.
The Illiassa native admitted that farming in the Gambia is very difficult “because you can ask for support daily, but hardly get one from people or state institutions”.
Pinpointing marketing of farm produce as another “nightmare” for many Gambian farmers, Alagie Karamo further noted that mostly, harvested crops easily get perished. He alleged that government is not doing anything to remedy the unfortunate situation for young farmers like him.
“I travel from Busumbala village to other villages just to look for lands to grow my crops,” the young farmer lamented. He outlined his achievements in farming, notably financing his education from Primary 4 to Grade 9; creating employment for over seven young Gambians; that in 2017 he harvested over 1,556 bags of onions; and over 21 youths joined him in his farming endeavors.
Jammeh thanked the Global Youth Innovation Network Gambia Chapter (GYIN Gambia Chapter) for the training and other supports it provided to him. He hailed the Executive Director of GYIN Gambia Chapter, Mr. Mamadou Edrisa Njie, for his efforts towards national development.
“I respect Mr. Edrisa Njie, and [I’m] grateful to him,” acknowledged the young determined Alagie Karamo Jammeh.
