By Haddy Touray
The opposition party, Patriotic Progressive Alliance (PPA), has strongly criticized the government’s groundnut pricing, calling it “unacceptable” and “far below world market rates.”
In a statement issued on Monday, Dr. Ousman Gajigo, leader of the PPA, said the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC) recently announced that it would purchase up to 50,000 tons of groundnuts from Gambian farmers at a total cost of D2 billion. This translates to a price of roughly D40,000 per ton, or D40 per kilogram, according to Dr. Gajigo.
“This price is outrageously low and does not properly compensate farmers for the months of hard work during the rainy season,” Dr. Gajigo said. He adds that the current global price of groundnuts is nearly D100,000 per ton, more than double what the government is offering local producers.
The PPA leader linked the low government pricing to a decline in Gambian groundnut production under the Adama Barrow administration. “Groundnut production under President Yahya Jammeh was twice as high as it is today, and under President Jawara it was three times higher. This fall reflects a broader decline in agriculture under the current regime,” Dr. Gajigo said.
He further criticized the government for prioritizing promotional tours and political activities over agricultural support. “We need a government that is serious about agriculture and farmers. Instead of spending millions touring the country, they should pay Gambian farmers a fair and just price,” Dr. Gajigo remarked.
The PPA statement underscores a growing concern among farmers about the sustainability of groundnut cultivation in The Gambia. Analysts say that when pricing fails to match production costs or global market values, smallholder farmers are discouraged from planting groundnuts, leading to reduced output and economic strain on rural communities.
Dr. Gajigo urged the government to review the pricing immediately to ensure farmers are not short-changed, warning that continued underpayment could have long-term implications for the agricultural sector and national food security.
As The Gambia continues to rely on groundnuts as a key agricultural export and livelihood source for rural communities, calls from political parties and farming organizations are mounting for more equitable pricing that aligns with international markets and adequately rewards the labour of local producers.
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By Haddy Touray The opposition party, Patriotic Progressive Alliance (PPA), has strongly criticized the government’s groundnut pricing, calling it “unacceptable”…
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