By: Aminata Jallow
Distress looms over the women at the Old Jeshwang Garden as rampant waterlogging and unwanted grass growth continue to hinder their farming activities. In an exclusive interview, farmers Fatoumatta Barrow and Natoma Fadera shed light on the challenges they face and appealed for government intervention to address their struggles.
Fatoumatta Barrow, a farmer at the Old Jeshwang Garden, expressed the urgent need for a drainage system to alleviate the waterlogging issues that have plagued their farmlands. She emphasized, “We are no longer able to continue with our annual rice cultivation due to the swamped soil that has disrupted our day-to-day activities.” Barrow called on the government to assist in establishing a drainage system to facilitate the movement of water and mitigate the challenges faced by the women farmers.
Furthermore, Natoma Fadera highlighted the dire situation faced by farmers in the area, where most struggle to tend to their farms inundated with water and unwanted grass.
Fadera stressed, “We rely on the small dried spaces we have left to grow essential vegetables like Cabbages, Tomatoes, and Okra.” She emphasized the urgent need for government and agricultural sector officials to step in and support the women farmers grappling with the overwhelming conditions in their gardens.
The plight of the Old Jeshwang Garden farmers underscores the critical need for immediate action to provide relief and assistance to the women working tirelessly to sustain their livelihoods. The call for a drainage system and support in combating waterlogging and unwanted growth resonates as a crucial intervention to empower these farmers and enable them to continue their agricultural activities effectively.
The appeals from Fatoumatta Barrow and Natoma Fadera shed light on the pressing challenges faced by the women farmers at the Old Jeshwang Garden. Their call for government assistance to address waterlogging and unwanted grass growth exemplifies the need for targeted interventions to support agricultural productivity and alleviate the hardships faced by these dedicated farmers.
