This significant financial intervention, he said, aims to ease the burden on farmers and ensure that essential agricultural inputs remain both accessible and affordable.
Sanyang, who was speaking on Friday during a recent engagement with secco presidents ahead of the 2025/2026 groundnut season, emphasised that the government’s investment reflects a deep understanding of the challenges Gambian farmers face and a strong resolve to uplift rural livelihoods, and addressing their challenges.
“This level of support is unprecedented,” Sanyang stated. “The government is not only making fertilizers and groundnuts available but is also ensuring that they are within the financial reach of our hardworking farmers. This is a clear indication of the state’s dedication to transforming agriculture into a more productive and sustainable sector.”
As preparations for this year’s trade season gain momentum, officials (NFSPMC) have announced that they have identified 50 seccos across the country with which they will be working.
This initiative, they explained, aims to minimise the losses incurred last year and to ensure that the groundnuts purchased are of high quality. In addition to partnering with these 50 seccos, NFSPMC officials revealed plans to procure screening machines that will be used at the seccos to assess the quality of groundnuts. This measure is intended to guarantee that only top-quality groundnuts are delivered to the corporation’s depots.
“Many seccos experienced problems last year, including issues with cash and other operational challenges. We incurred significant losses, and we cannot allow that to continue. That’s why we have identified 50 seccos that we believe are the most reliable,” he explained. “We also have State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) observing our operations as an institution.”
Sanyang added that the corporation is transitioning from physical cash payments to a more modern mobile payment system, stating: “We don’t want to carry cash everywhere, as it’s simply not safe. We will provide training so that you can operate the system effectively.”
Thomas Roberts, director of the Strategic Planning Unit at the National Food Security and Processing Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC), underscored the significance of the gathering, stating: “This is our first engagement ahead of the trade season. We want to have an honest discussion with you regarding the upcoming trade season.”
He noted that due to the government’s continued commitment to improving the welfare of farmers across the country, “the government intends to bring seccos closer to the farmers to ensure they do not have to walk long distances to access them.”
“Last year, we worked with 100 seccos across the country. Unfortunately, although we purchased groundnuts from them, some of the produce did not reach the depot, which resulted in significant losses for us,” he explained.
“The 50 identified seccos will undergo training. We will provide them with screening machines to reduce manual labour. Therefore, no one will have the excuse of delivering groundnuts mixed with sand or other impurities. We will reject any groundnuts that do not meet the required standards,” he stressed.
Speaking on behalf of the seccos’ president, Chief Yahya Jarjusey, reminded stakeholders that the gathering was aimed at ensuring a successful trade season. He welcomed the initiative to install screening machines at various seccos across the country.
He urged seccos’ presidents to work closely with their secretaries and to monitor the records entered in their vouchers to ensure transparency and accountability. He concluded by commending the government for its continued support to farmers nationwide, as reflected in the price paid per tonne of groundnuts, reportedly higher than in neighbouring countries.
The session concluded with a question-and-answer segment, during which farmers raised concerns and sought clarification on various issues. It ended with a renewed commitment to ensuring a successful trade season.
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