His Excellency the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya AJJ Jammeh, on Friday afternoon distributed over 12000 50kg bags of sugar to the five regions of the country. This gesture is part of his annual Ramadan support to the needy Gambians through the Regional Governors.

The occasion was witnessed by the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Cabinet Ministers, Regional Governors, Security Chiefs and a cross-section of the general public.

In his message to the Gambian people, President Jammeh reminded that he has been telling the people to go back to the land in order to acquire food self-sufficiency and self-reliance. This, he said was misjudged by some people as his government's inability to afford employment for the people; thus encouraging them to be farmers.

He said the increase in the price of basic commodities will continue to pose problems "if we don't grow what we eat". He cited this year as an example saying all the major rice exporting countries are encountering devastating floods; "this means the price of rice will escalate to D900 by next year," he added. He further reminded that in 2007 when floods hit China and Pakistan, rice had become scarce in 2008.

President Jammeh applauded the Regional Governors and the Sefolu to increase their productivity for this year because is not too late since Nerica is available. He said even groundnut, sesame and other crops can be planted. "I am not a politician, I am just telling you the truth; that if anyone tells you that the price of commodities will go down, that person is not telling you the truth", he emphasized.

He went on: "Some people are saying that the election is coming soon and so they will not worry because I will do all means to get the basic commodities of the Gambian people. But if these commodities are not found in the market how would I get them?" What I can do is to urge every Gambian to go back to the farm in order to feed themselves," he said.

President Jammeh then revealed the plans that are underway to grow and process sugar in the country. "If Allah wish in the next two to five years we will eat sugar that we grow in the country because the second largest sugar producing country in the world after Brazil is Cuba, and my government is having a programme with them in the production of sugar cane", he announced.

The Gambian leader identified Upper River and Central River Regions as the ideal areas for sugar cane plantation. He then urged the governors, sefolu and alkalolu to inform their people that his government will not tolerate any person who owns land without making use of it. He urged them to give it to others who will use it for agricultural purposes rather than leaving it barren.

Speaking earlier, the Minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, Lamin Kaba Bajo, thanked the President for his generosity, noting that His Excellency is doing this gesture every year for humanitarian sake. He called on the Regional Governors to distribute the sugar accordingly and on time since it is meant for the Ramadan.

By Alhagie Ceesay and Aji Fatou Jammeh