9th August 2003

The first lady Madam Zainab Yahya Jammeh on Saturday visited rice fields owned by women in Jambur and Marakissa, Western Division. Her visit to the fields was meant to express solidarity with the women farmers and to commend them for their hardwork. The First Lady has also said that she is on visit to strengthen President Jammeh's "Back to the Land" call and to see for herself some of the problems the women encounter at the farms.

Mrs. Zainab Jammeh used the occasion to call on women of the Gambia to come together and collaborate with her in the interest of national development regardless of political affiliation.

As part of the visit, Madam Jammeh issued twenty-five bags of fertilizer and five thousand dalasi to Jambur women and another twenty-five bags of fertilizer with ten thousand dalasi to the women of Marakissa.

The Secretary of State for Education Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta described the First Lady's visit as a demonstration of her interest in the welfare of Gambian women. Mrs. Ndong-Jatta emphasised that women are integral agents of society and should not therefore be left out in the process of national development. She commended the women of the two villages for their hardwork and urged them to unite for a common good.

Speaking on behalf of the women, the lady president of Jambur Aja Kaddy Bojang expressed gratitude to Madame Jammeh for the visit and for the assistance she offered them. Mrs. Bojang revealed that they have embarked on the growing of Nerica Rice variety and appealed for assistance with a borehole to enable them engage in large-scale production.

For her part, the lady counsellor of Kombo South Aja Sirra Sowe referred to the First Lady 's visit as an encouragement for the women. Mrs. Sowe urged the women to put the money into good use.