Women farmers at Lamin WAYEHTO have spoken about the numerous challenges they face at their farms where they grow different crops and vegetables to earn a living. Agie Bintou Drammeh has more.
In these farms, vegetables are grown during the dry season and rice is cultivated during the rainy season. This is where these hard-working women toil to make ends meet. The ground is wet and muddy and there are no distinctive routes to access the site. Among their problems is intrusion by saltwater, which affects their crops.
Oumie Badjie, a farmer laments the high cost of fertilizer. It’s very difficult here. We the poor farmers live from hand-to-mouth to fend for our families. It is difficult to get fertilizer because it is costly and poor famers like us can’t afford it. A pot of fertilizer is 75 dalasis, which can’t serve our large farms. Even the organic manure like goat or cow dung is for sale now. A bag is 50 dalasis. When will we save money? it is difficult.
In the Gambia, agriculture is the backbone of the economy. However, most of the products we consume are imported.
Kumba Baldeh calls on the government and good Samaritans for support. One of our problems is when it rains heavily. The water flows into our fields and covers our crops completely. When there is a rise in the water level from the river, which contains salt, it flows into our fields and affects our crops. In fact, this year, our husbands had to place sandbags to prevent salt water from intruding. Those around the other end of the fields will not cultivate their fields this year.
Another problem these women face is infestation by leeches which often bite them causing bleeding. Oumie Badjie explains that, there was a time QTV came here. After the news broadcast, we were supported with grease and other materials. The grease was very helpful against leeches. However, we need socks, gloves, and boots. Right now, there is no water on the farmland, but leeches are still there.
Isatou Jallow, another farmer, also explains that, these leeches affect us a lot. There is not much water in my garden, but there are lots of leeches. I just removed two leeches from my body a while ago. If one is afraid, they can’t bear with them. earth worms also affect our vegetables, if we harvest sweet potatoes, hoping for a bumper harvest, we get disappointment at the end.
Some of these women have worked here for ages providing fruits, rice and vegetables not only to feed their families, but also supply our local markets with the much-needed products. However, all they need various kinds of support to continue earning a living.
BY: AGIE BINTOU DRAMMEH
In these farms, vegetables are grown during the dry season and rice is cultivated during the rainy season. This is where these hard-working women toil to make ends meet. The ground is wet and muddy and there are no distinctive routes to access the site. Among their problems is intrusion by saltwater, which affects their crops.
Oumie Badjie, a farmer laments the high cost of fertilizer. It’s very difficult here. We the poor farmers live from hand-to-mouth to fend for our families. It is difficult to get fertilizer because it is costly and poor famers like us can’t afford it. A pot of fertilizer is 75 dalasis, which can’t serve our large farms. Even the organic manure like goat or cow dung is for sale now. A bag is 50 dalasis. When will we save money? it is difficult.
In the Gambia, agriculture is the backbone of the economy. However, most of the products we consume are imported.
Kumba Baldeh calls on the government and good Samaritans for support. One of our problems is when it rains heavily. The water flows into our fields and covers our crops completely. When there is a rise in the water level from the river, which contains salt, it flows into our fields and affects our crops. In fact, this year, our husbands had to place sandbags to prevent salt water from intruding. Those around the other end of the fields will not cultivate their fields this year.
Another problem these women face is infestation by leeches which often bite them causing bleeding. Oumie Badjie explains that, there was a time QTV came here. After the news broadcast, we were supported with grease and other materials. The grease was very helpful against leeches. However, we need socks, gloves, and boots. Right now, there is no water on the farmland, but leeches are still there.
Isatou Jallow, another farmer, also explains that, these leeches affect us a lot. There is not much water in my garden, but there are lots of leeches. I just removed two leeches from my body a while ago. If one is afraid, they can’t bear with them. earth worms also affect our vegetables, if we harvest sweet potatoes, hoping for a bumper harvest, we get disappointment at the end.
Some of these women have worked here for ages providing fruits, rice and vegetables not only to feed their families, but also supply our local markets with the much-needed products. However, all they need various kinds of support to continue earning a living.
BY: AGIE BINTOU DRAMMEH