By Jaka Ceesay Jaiteh
With no important mineral or other natural resources, the economy of The Gambia is heavily reliant on agriculture and tourism. But even the agriculture sector is limited to some certain crop cultivation. Fruits such as apples, grapes, pineapples, plums and the likes are imported into the country at a large scale because of the concept that they can’t be grown in the country.
A young Gambian in his mid-30s by the name Bamboring Sambou has proven that that concept is wrong as it is possible to grow such crops on Gambian soil.
Bamboring is the CEO and co-founder of Max-Way Tropical Greening Farm and Germination Center, a farm that aims put a stop to the importations of food crops such as apples, olives, pineapples, grapes, plums and other species of fruits that are not grown in The Gambia.
“It took me three years to learn about these fruits and how they are grown. Now I want to share my knowledge so we will stop importing such fruits and have them home grown as it is possible in other African countries,” he says.
At the farm, a locally made green-house made out of nets and wire was constructed in order to protect the fruits and give them the right amount of sunlight and care needed.
“We decided to construct a local green house because we couldn’t afford to construct a standard greenhouse but even with this it is not the best substitute,” he says.
He further adds that in order to improve the country’s agricultural sector, people should change their perceptions towards agriculture and put in more passion, time and dedication and in that way money can be saved from.
