A young gardener in the North Bank village of Kanuma, Mr. Bai Gassama, is engaged in the cultivation of various crops as a means of self-employment and main source of income.
The owner of ‘Gassama-Jabbie Evergreen Garden’ told this medium he started gardening in 2020 by cultivating tomatoes, onions, lettuce and cabbage. Starting his garden venture with just 1,000 dalasi, the Kanuma villager was proud to note that today, he’s able to employ himself and hire the services of another youth–on part time basis.
The ambitious Bai has the monumental desire of becoming the “leading entrepreneur or gardener” not only in the North Bank Region but also in the whole country, as he indicated to this pro-development online medium. He reported that with his current turnover, he was able to secure his own plot of land measuring 30×30; but was quick to admit lack of funds to develop it, sating he still could not fence the piece of land and install some form of water system.
The Gambia High School graduate, who also had numerous trainings on entrepreneurship, among other areas, recalled the rejection of his application for a Mini-grant by the Youth Empowerment Project, describing it as a real financial hope dashed.
“My capital was 1000 dalasi and I have it from my day-to-day working as a youth,” the rural gardener decried.
Bai further lamented that access to funding is a real challenge in the Gambia, saying despite having five certificates on entrepreneurship, “I always ask for funding from donors to help me achieve my goal but to no avail”.
He also cited transportation as another challenge he’s facing, and therefore used the interview to call on those with the means to help him with a tricycle so as to ease his movements.
When asked why he chose farming, Bai responded with, “do what you love and love what you do”. He reasoned, because to him, not everyone could be in the office; some have to do different things.
According to the young gardener-cum-youth advocate, he is using social media to market his produce, noting the demand mostly comes from such platforms.
“I have full support of my community because one of my relatives gave me [a piece of] land to do the gardening. And now, I am able to secure my own land,” he acknowledged.
Meantime, Gassama is not into gardening alone but also in active youth advocacy against irregular migration. He joined ‘Youth Against Irregular Migration’, a national youth organization that is comprised of migrant returnees, raising awareness on the dangers of the previous journey.
He concluded by renewing his call on people with the wherewithal to come to his aid, so that he would be able fence his garden and get a proper water supply system.
