By Assan Bah
The Gambia’s groundnut production for the 2024-2025 season has seen a significant decline, dropping by 14% compared to last year, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Security, Hon. Demba Sabally.
In an exclusive interview with Foroyaa, Minister Sabally revealed that the country’s groundnut yield is expected to be just over 40,000 metric tonnes, a sharp decrease from last year’s production of approximately 65,000 metric tonnes.
The decrease in groundnut output has raised concerns for both the government and farmers, as groundnuts are a critical crop not only for domestic consumption but also for export and the production of groundnut oil. So far, the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC), formerly known as the Gambia Groundnut Corporation (GGC), has purchased more than 20,000 metric tonnes of groundnuts, significantly lower than the previous year’s purchases.
The minister emphasized that the government is committed to addressing this shortfall and improving future groundnut yields.
“As a government, we are aware of both the commercial and cultural importance of groundnuts. We are, therefore, working on measures to increase both production and productivity,” said Minister Sabally.
One of the ministry’s key strategies to boost groundnut production is its ongoing collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), under the framework of the Technical Cooperation Program (TCP). The focus of this partnership is to enhance groundnut farming techniques and production capacity, ensuring greater yield in the coming seasons.
Minister Sabally also highlighted the importance of the NFSPMC’s new facility, which is designed to process groundnuts into crude oil and animal feed, among other products. This facility, which represents a significant government investment, requires a substantial amount of groundnuts to operate effectively.
“We must maintain or exceed last year’s production levels to keep the factory running,” the minister explained. “Even before the current production shortfall, the government had already engaged international partners. A team, including major groundnut farmers, NARI experts, and technical staff from the Ministry, visited Georgia in the United States, a region renowned for its expertise in groundnut cultivation, to explore best practices.”
The government has allocated one billion dalasis for the 2024-2025 trade season, a budget that Minister Sabally believes will be sufficient given the expected lower yield.
“I do not expect the total cost of groundnut purchases to exceed 1.2 or 1.3 billion dalasis this year. Last year, we spent 1.5 billion dalasis to purchase a larger quantity, but we have contingency plans in place,” he said.
Farmers who still have unsold groundnuts are encouraged to present them to the nearest ‘secco’ within the official opening and closing dates of the trade season, according to the minister. While the reduced production may present challenges, Sabally stressed that the government remains focused to addressing the issue and ensuring that the groundnut sector remains a cornerstone of The Gambia’s agricultural economy.
