NACOFAG condemns distribution of untested fertilisers in Gambia

Speaking on behalf of the association, National President Mr. Musa Sowe emphasised that fertilisers which bypass scientific vetting pose “severe threats to our farming.” He warned that such products can destabilize soil pH, destroy beneficial microbes, and cause long-term infertility of farmland. Farmers, he noted, risk economic ruin through crop failure, financial loss, and rejection of their produce in both local and export markets. 

NACOFAG aligned itself with the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), the Department of Agriculture, and leading academics in calling for an immediate halt to the spread of unauthorized fertilisers. The association stressed that only products carrying official certification should be used in Gambian fields. 

Mr. Sowe drew parallels between agricultural regulation and public health, citing the tragic 2022 contaminated cough syrup scandal that claimed the lives of 70 Gambian children. “Bypassing rigorous laboratory testing for agricultural inputs carries risks directly comparable to pharmaceutical failures,” he said, warning that toxic components in untested fertilizers can leach into groundwater, contaminate food supplies, and trigger long-term health crises. 

The statement highlighted additional dangers, including heavy metal contamination, nitrate pollution of drinking water, and toxic algal blooms that threaten both human and livestock communities. NACOFAG urged the Ministry of Agriculture to adopt strict quality standards, laboratory testing, and field trials before approving any agricultural inputs. 

In its call to action, NACOFAG president urged farmers to reject uncertified fertilizers and report unauthorized vendors to local extension offices. The association also called on regulatory authorities to enforce strict penalties against the sale of unapproved products, stressing that protecting Gambian soils and food systems is essential to safeguarding national food security.