President Barrow made this announcement at a meeting held at Pakau Njogu in the North Bank Region. He disclosed that this year’s groundnut trade season will begin on 4 December 2023.
The nationwide tour is expected to avail the president the opportunity to dialogue and interact with Gambians and listen to their concerns with the objectives of addressing them. It is also an opportunity to enable the president to roll out his government’s policies and programmes that are geared toward nation building.
At a well-attended meeting at Pakau Njogu, President Barrow put a smile on Gambian famers with the announcement of the price of groundnut for this year’s trade season, saying “addressing the difficulties and challenges of Gambian farmers is at the center stage of my government’s development agenda.”
“In fact, during this year trade season, there will be no credit buying. We have contracted the banks and they will be paying farmers on the spot. So, there is no need to worry about shortage of cash,” he guaranteed.
“I can assure that the government will be purchasing all the groundnuts from farmers across the country,” he said, while advising Gambian farmers to sell their groundnuts to the government.
“This will go a long way in helping government to continue subsidising the prices of fertiliser among others,” he pointed.
Commenting on the issue of businessmen who he said normally buy groundnuts from farmers and go sell it outside the country, Barrow said: “This year’s trade season will be different from the previous year. For those businessmen coming to the country and buy groundnuts from farmers must have a licence. We have no problem for anyone selling groundnuts to any individual. However, those that are taking it outside the country must have a licence. Again, even if you have the licence, the groundnuts must pass through the country’s Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) where the individual will have to pay export fee,” he emphasised.
Businessmen who fail to comply with this, Barrow warned, will “face full force of the law. The police will arrest anyone that is found exporting groundnuts outside the country without acquiring a licence,” he further warned.
Speaking earlier, Aziz Secka, from Lower Nuimi, called on the Gambian leader to help them with farming equipment with the desire of addressing some challenges they are encountering.
“Early commencement of the groundnut trade season and giving farmers a good groundnut price will discourage Gambian farmers from selling their groundnuts outside the country,” he observed.
For his part, Amadou Sowe, who was speaking on behalf of the farmers in Lower Nuimi, thanked the Gambian leader for his foresight in complementing the effort of farmers.
“During the past farming season, the government brought enough fertilizers which were sold to farmers at a reasonable price. However, we want the government to help in addressing the water problem that cattle owners in the area continue to face.”
Agriculture Minister Demba Sabally reaffirmed government’s continuous commitment to promoting the welfare of farmers. He claimed that the government through his ministry has brought lot of projects and helped lot of farmers within the three districts.
“The Ministry of Agriculture has also created a platform where farmers who have corn and want to sell it can have access the market. In fact, during the last raining season, the Ministry of Agriculture has brought 17, 000 kg of corns and gave it out to farmers for free.”
Minister Sabally claimed that the ministry is working to address the problem some women gardens face within the area.
