The director of Forestry Mr. Abdoulie Alpha Sanneh has advised the people of The Gambia to make sure that the trees they plant are well compacted with soil so as to avoid air spaces and waterlog, which he said, lead to decay of roots.

He gave this expert advise on Monday when The Gambia’s forestry department embarked on a massive tree planting exercise on Gambian president Yahya Jammeh’s farm at his home village of Kanilai. Around one thousand fruit trees, including lime, orange and mango were planted, covering an area of about thirty hectares.

“We have decided to come here to help plant trees donated to the president by the people of Njaba Kunda during the dialogue with the people’s tour,” said the forestry boss.

“We strongly believe that by helping the president we are helping ourselves because over the years we have seen that all the proceeds from the president’s farms were ploughed back to the people in the form of drugs for patients, school fees for our children, among others,” director Sanneh noted.

He commended his staff for turning up en-masse to participate in the tree planting exercise.

 Responding to a concern on the sustainability of the trees, Sanneh expressed hope that the trees will be well protected.

“All the conditions needed for their sustenance ranging from security to adequate water supply are available here,” he said, adding that the trees will as well be protected from bushfires.