Amid Looming Food Crisis, Jammeh Vows To Beg Than See Gambians Die Of Starvation

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Amid Looming Food Crisis, Jammeh Vows To Beg Than See Gambians Die Of Starvation

Sunday, 11 March 2012 20:01

(JollofNews) – President Yahya Jammeh has vowed to go the extra mile in order to shoulder responsibilities and support efforts aimed at alleviating the suffering of Gambians confronted with serious food shortages and dangerously inflated prices of basic commodities.

“When you are hard pressed by circumstances like that, it is better to beg than to see your people dying,” he told GRTS Thursday upon his arrival at Banjul International Airport, after a three-day visit in Doha, State of Qatar.

Jammeh's pronouncement came in the wake of unprecedented 2011-2012 farming season that has been declared by his government as a failure resulting from severe crop

Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh speaking to journalists

failures and a corresponding soaring of food prices.

“The post-harvest assessment of the 2011 farming season, which was characterized by below normal and poorly distributed rainfall, indicated a reduction in total crop production of more than 70%. Very poor harvests, varying from nothing harvested in some of the villages and regions to unsatisfactory harvests of rice, groundnuts, millets, maize and sorghum in others, could barely guarantee self-provisioning of 2 months. In an average year, self-provisioning is put at 4-6 months,” said a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture.

The outspoken Gambian leader promised to deploy all the resources at his disposal to help in chalking out plans to remedy this situation. “With regard to the issue of food shortage and harvest, we are going to address that. I will rather die than see Gambians starve. That is one of the reasons I went to Qatar, and by Monday, we are going to have an emergency cabinet meeting to address the issue of food shortage,” he said.

Agriculture is the most pro-poor sector in the country's economy, accounting for over 70 percent of employment in 2010. It is responsible for generating earnings and boosting tax revenue, the country's main source of income and acts as a catalyst in reducing poverty.
Written by Abdoulie John

Comments

123

+3 #29 2012-03-15 05:20

Radiokangkang - I applaud your views. However, i thought your ignorance was a genuine one, because you were curious, which lead to knowledge gain. BUT DUDE YOU NEED HELP. I am not calling your ignorant because if i do, i will be ignorant myself, because i do know nothing about. You may not be ignorant but your words represents you and the words that represent you on this page are ignorant. Take you time and response wisely. Our problem in the Gambia, is not just JAMMEH, but our political structure. I do not care who take over the government, unless we change our political structure things will never change. Quote:

The President is in business activities, is that unlawful in our constitution?

You want me to tell you if that is illegal? If you still don't get it Quote:

May Allah bless your mind & soul from your ignorance & stupidity..

.B4africa meant that. Ignorance feels good with attitude.

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0 #28 2012-03-14 22:29

Quoting Radiokangkang:

The President is in business activities, is that unlawful in our constitution?

May Allah bless your mind & soul from your ignorance & your heartless attitudes.

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-4 #27 2012-03-14 22:11

Amie Neneh Mbakkeh, You are right, am not intelligent. I am whatever you wanna call me. Mbakkeh Bala Aisha.

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-4 #26 2012-03-14 22:04

Damlie, The remittance issue is our responsibility to take care of our parents and families, regardless of where you're, be it JAPAN or SARE PATEH.

Bax, I will promise you one thing, not a single life will be lost due to the present circumstances. this hardship will be resolve, INSAALLAH.

James, The President is in business activities, is that unlawful in our constitution?

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+2 #25 2012-03-14 18:38

Radiokangkang - What you thanking me for. What support! I am telling as I see. When the US government needed a safety net for disaster relief they created FEMA, When the need food provision in times of crisis they created USDA for the people. We could go on all day listing, but on the other hand when Jammeh realizes that there is a food crisis, he takes "HIS OWN MONEY" and invest in adventures that makes him richer. A president should and cannot engage in business adventures whiles in office, unless those adventures where pre-existing before serving. Once in office, any president would use bias strategies to flourish his business, this is common sense. Whenever there is an issues with price hikes, He fools Gambians by investing on such commodities and selling them at a lesser price, which is great if proceeds returns back to the people. One will have cheaper prices if you do not have to pay taxes, storage, transportation, wages and distribution. Think before you Comment.

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+1 #24 2012-03-14 15:48

Pls Steven Anderson..

. We beg you not to disrupt Jollofnews ...We know how frustrating it can be sometimes to get our views heard... Regardless of the paper's position,and those Jammeh supporters,we will still continue to express our views...

After all,freedom of expression is all about allowing people to express their views,whether sense/nonsense....

Radiokangkang is a 'mad' Jammeh supporter but we have learnt to live and share this blog with him...At the end of the day,only Jammeh and his thugs are responsible for the murders,mysteri ous deaths and unexplained disappearances...And they will one day be held to account,God willing...

This catastrophe of starvation facing The Gambia is a result of the Jammeh administration's failure in Agriculture,in particular,and all else...

It's no good blaming lack of rain because our country is endowed with abundant fresh water that be tapped all year round...

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+3 #23 2012-03-14 15:06

Why begging when you have the Allahs world bank. Besides Gambians import 90% of the foodstuff we eat into the country,and 75% of gambian depends on remittance from abroad to maintain and feed their familes.Farmers just need a loan to till next year....Beg for who, not the Gambians peoples.

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-5 #22 2012-03-14 09:22

Steven Anderson, Have i ever mention the two names that you just mention here?

Do i've to made a comment that would satisfied you?

Am i here to entertain anybody?

I am here to express my opinion and to make comments to the best of my ability. thank you for taking your most valiable time to read all my nonesense comments.

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-7 #21 2012-03-13 18:47

James, Thank you for your support, you not too bad or too good, but atlease i can find something in your comment interesting, honestly you're very funny!

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+1 #20 2012-03-13 06:06

Vision 2020. Who else comes up with a greater plan than that. When our great, genius, smart president realize that there was a food crisis, he created the jammeh farms, when there was a poultry crisis he created the Jammeh poultry, cement we get jammeh cement, meat we get jammeh meat, bread we get jammeh bread, and so on... Guys don't worry about this crisis because Jammeh is thinking. Rescue will soon come, we just got to wait him finish his illegal transactions. Don't forget about his God's bank account. Don't worry guys Jammeh is thinking we might all get discounted can food like Sardines or Cornbeef. You never know there might be a Jammeh Oatmeal for all. Be Patient guys he is thinking. Great leaders think. We a lucky to have a president that is a doctor, agriculturist, mentor, Judge, Contractor, business man, and so on. Where else in the world will you find such a leader. So why are you guys complaining give him time HE IS THINKING THINKING, THINKING AND THINKING...

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