By Binta Jaiteh
Women in Gambia’s coastal village of Kartong are crying over the loss of their farm lands to sand mining activities.
They have expressed concern over the impact of mining activities on agricultural lands, saying the situation is affecting their livelihoods and food production.
Members of the Kartong Gardeners Union say sand mining in the area has resulted in the degradation of farmlands used for gardening and crop production.
Speaking to The Voice Newspaper, the coordinator of the Kartong Gardeners Union, Alfusainey Sey, says many women are struggling due to the loss of access to productive land.
“Most of the lands were mined, causing significant damage to the community. Our lands have been used and now people are facing the consequences. The land has been affected by mining activities. It has not been rehabilitated, nor have alternative spaces been provided for women’s gardening,” he remarked.
He added that the union was formed to bring together farmers to address challenges affecting agricultural production in the area.
“We formed this union because of the challenges farmers are facing. We cannot sit and watch our lands being mined like in other communities. Sand mining has been an issue in Kartong since the late 1990s,” he said.
He further noted that coastal farming had long been practiced in the community due to favourable soil conditions.
However, he says the community is still waiting for a lasting solution to the issue, which he describes as having serious effects on local livelihoods.
Another farmer, Mbassy Sidibeh, said gardening remained a key source of income for many families in Kartong.
“We feed our children, pay their school fees and meet other needs through gardening. That is why we are against mining because of its impact on our livelihoods,” she cried.
She called on development partners and philanthropists to support efforts to restore degraded farmlands and assist affected farmers.
