Mr. Alieu Darboe, the founder of Nema Kuta Garden & Eco-Lodge in Gunjur, practices mixed farming by cultivating vegetables and fruits. Through telephone interview on April 3, 2022, he told this medium that he started the business in 2012, in Gunjur West Coast Region, for self-sustainability, because it’s his belief that farming is one of the surest ways to poverty reduction and eliminate hunger in society.
“I live on my own fruits and vegetables, which is healthier,” Darboe underlined, but he revealed that he had lots of challenges, including lack of water, pest infestation and lack of access to quality seedlings.
In terms of marketing, the Founder of Nema Kuta Garden said his clients, who are mostly women, would usually collect the harvested produce from his farm and return his money later in the day. He enjoined Gambian youth to return to the land to save their country, stressing “no one will develop this country for Gambians”. He also said it’s high time that citizens of this country venture into farming for sustainability and hunger eradication. He posited that the government of the Gambia should offer support to those in the agricultural business so as to empower the youth.
Among the fruits and vegetables Darboe cultivates are banana, peppers, cashew, cabbage, legumes and oranges.
According to research, access to finance has been one of the biggest challenges for most Gambian entrepreneurs and farmers leading to poor performances of these crucial sectors of society, with severe consequences such as food insecurity, malnutrition and lesser exportation of Gambian produce to the outside world, thus attracting more importation of foreign products into the country.
