By Assan Bah
Abdoulie S. Khan, the Coordinator and Liaison Officer for the Federation of Cooperative Societies (FACs), has announced that a total of D840,781,247.57 has been disbursed for the purchase of groundnuts from farmers during the 2024/25 trade season.
The funds, which encompass both crop financing and commissions, are part of a significant initiative aimed at supporting agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers across the country.
As of March 3, 2025, the disbursed funds cover various regional cycles, with specific allocations for each area to ensure that farmers are compensated fairly for their produce. Below is a detailed breakdown of the disbursements for the different regions:
· Barra Cycle: A total of D234,847,737.27 was allocated for crop financing, accompanied by a commission of D8,662,285.60.
· Basse North: Crop financing for this region amounted to D25,420,325.00, with a commission of D939,153.89.
· Basse South: A total of D139,668,450.61 was disbursed for crop financing, along with a commission of D4,870,785.20.
· Central River Region (CRR) North: D155,740,478.20 was allocated for crop financing, and the commission stood at D5,736,480.80.
· CRR South: Crop financing for CRR South totaled D148,624,781.00, with a commission of D5,475,649.83.
· Kerewan Cycle: A sum of D95,861,166.00 was allocated for crop financing, with a commission of D3,466,330.59.
· Mansakonko Cycle: Crop financing here reached D83,185,223.89, with a commission of D3,647,718.77.
· West Coast Cycle: A total of D15,803,493.00 was allocated for crop financing, with a commission of D582,233.95.
This substantial disbursement is part of a broader strategy to improve the agricultural sector and facilitate the efficient processing and sale of groundnuts, The Gambia’s cash crop. Khan emphasized the importance of the trade season funds in providing a much-needed boost to local agriculture.
