UTG Cultivates 30-Hectare Groundnut Farm At Faraba Banta

University of The Gambia (UTG)

In its quest to respond to the presidential call for people to till the land for the purpose of self-reliance in food, the University of The Gambia (UTG) has embarked on the cultivation of a 30-hectare groundnut farm at Faraba Banta.

This year's farming activity at the University's Science, Technology and Innovation Park followed last year's cultivation of corn on the same ground, which yielded the institution 19 bags of corn.

The president of the Republic, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh, who is the chancellor of the UTG, is the man behind this year's massive farming activities. It would be recalled that during his 2013 'Dialogue with the People Tour," the president donated 50 bags of groundnut and five tractors to the university.

In view of the above, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Muhammadou M.O. Kah, did not waste time in engaging his team of agricultural experts, led by Messrs Jenung Manneh and Sainey Keita, other staff and faculty members to go to work.

In a recent meeting with senior administration, faculty and student government, VC Kah called upon all to engage one another to answer to the clarion call of the president for Gambians to engage in farming to help in the drive for self-sufficiency in food production.

Aside from the Faraba farm, Professor Kah and his team have also started cultivating a big corn farm at Brikama. The university administration is calling upon all the students and staff of the university to roll on their sleeves and answer to the call and help at the university farms.