African agriculture needs to transform from subsistence to market systems, says Dione

Josue Dione

If African agriculture is to contribute to the achievement of the MDGs through broad-based growth, food security, employment and poverty reduction, it would need to transform from the current subsistence system to market oriented ones, the Director of Food Security and Sustainable Development (FSSD) of Economic Commission for Africa, Josue Dione, said in Addis Ababa on Tuesday.

Welcoming about 30 experts who began a three-day meeting on the “Development and Promotion of Regional Strategic Food and Agricultural Commodities Value Chains in Africa”, Dione said an effective transformation of agriculture in Africa must first bridge the poor linkages of farmers to input markets and to product markets accompanied with rapid urbanization.

National Assembly frowns on Sport Ministry, NSC

Minister Gomez

The National Assembly Select Committee on Youth and Sport on January 25, 2011 questioned and strictly address the Minister of Youth and Sport, his Permanent Secretary and the Acting Executive Secretary of the National Sport Council (NSC) for what they describe as a disrespect and failure to adhere to the decision of the National Assembly.

On December 30, 2010 the Select Committee issued a Report on its findings on the Gambia National Olympic Committee (GNOC) presidential crises and as well set February 12, 2011 for the presidential elections.

However, the NSC Acting Executive Secretary Abdul Azziz Titao Mendy on Monday January 24 issued a media dispatch, protesting the decision of the Select Committee and also advised the Minister of Youth and Sport to set up a tribunal to look into the matter already resolved by the legislature.

Farmers left ‘bututless’ due to lack of cash at groundnut selling point

Groundnuts

Farmer at the village of Saba and it surrounding in the Lower Baddibou District of the North Bank Region have complained about the shortage of cash at the Saba “Secco” (groundnut buying point).

Speaking to our reporter, Masanneh Makalo, a native of Saba village said: “There is no money presently, people come with their groundnuts and sell it on credit and they cannot tell when the money will be available.”

Makalo was found sitting at the Secco in Saba waiting hopelessly as he has already let his groundnut go without receiving a butut (lowest Gambian currency denomination). “During the rainy season, farmers like me credited money to buy food, fertilisers and other farming necessities, however, we still cannot pay these people because we’ve not get our money yet,” he lamented.

Gamtel Goes 3G, Launches Wireless Broadband

Gamtel logo

Gambia’s premier Telecommunication Company, Gamtel has introduced a 3G (third generation) wireless broadband into the telecommunication market on January 26, 2011 during a ceremony at the Gamtel House in Banjul.

The initiative involved three products (3G EXPRESS, 3G NAAFA and 3G BANTABA), which are all geared towards making internet connection accessible and affordable to the people.

Sierra Leonean arrested and detained

Commissioner Seedy Touray of Gambia Immigration Department, who is also responsible for refugees matters in The Gambia have order the arrest and detention of   Ibrahim M. Kamara, Chairman of Sierra Leonean Refugees in The Gambia.

Kamara is held at the Kairaba Police Station, a reliable source told The Voice Newspaper.

According to the source, Mr. Kamara was arrested by four immigration officers at the campus of the Latrikunda Upper Basic School along Kairaba Avenue on January 16, 2011. Kamara’s arrest came at a time when Sierra Leonean refugees were meeting at the campus to discuss issues pertaining to their status and protection.