By Abdoulie Nyockeh
The Minister of Agriculture (MoA) Madam Amie Fabureh, on Friday rounded off a three-day tour of the country during which she handed over farming implements-a goodwill gesture of the President-to the various selected communities in the regions, under the directives of President Adama Barrow.
The farming equipment, including power tillers, multipurpose thresher, Tarpaulins, coarse grain machine, pumping machine, Blast freezer for poultry house and Rice milling machines, among other things, were purchased through the Japanse project called Kennedy Round 2 (KR2) project grant. The farming implements were said to given to the Gambian farmers by President Barrow after a request made by the farmers during his presidential nationwide tour.
Minister Fabureh was accompanied on the delivery tour by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mr. Musa Huma; Central Project Coordination Unit [CPCU] Coordinator Mr. Abdoulie Touray; Director General at Department of Agriculture, Dr. Saikou Sanyang; and other senior agricultural staffers .
Upon arrival at the Central River Region (CRR), the female Agric Minister’s tour team was welcomed by the Governor of CRR, Mr. Abba Sanyang, and the Regional Agriculture Director Mr. Famara Trawally, and his junior staff in that Regional.
Therein, Fabureh through the Governor, handed over the various farming equipment to the beneficiary communities, including the Gambian-owned agribusiness called Maruo Farms-The Gambia based in Pacharr Rice field.
The visiting high-profile Agriculture delegation was taken from one village to another by Regional Director Trawally to witness the handing over of the farming equipment.
Agric Minister Fabureh explained that she was out to hand over dozens of farming equipment to the selected communities on behalf of President, noting that the presidential gesture was as a result of a request made by the farmers to Barrow during his last Meet the People’s Tour.
The president, in consultation with Minister Fabureh responded positively to that request in less than one month, resulting to the delivery of the said farming items to the identified beneficiaries.
The female Agriculture Minister had been applauded by farmers for her ambition, and firm commitment and concern for the welfare of the farmers. One farmer expressed their gratitude to Fabureh, observing that since her appointment to head the Ministry, there have been many developmental changes at the farmers’ level.
According to the old man, the plight of farmers had always been a priority of Minister Fabureh, He, therefore, urged other Cabinet Ministers to emulate her, for the development of this country. He argued that seeing a minister at the principal villages “is a big plus and motivation” for them.