This came after framers expressed worries over the situation as their financial returns, which they get after selling their produces at the end of rainy season, has been consistently declining.
“It’s a problem for us. Most of us do farming with the intention of selling our harvest and use the money to fund our children’s schools fees, provide fish money for our daily consumptions and other social functions. But things have not been working out good in recent seasons,” Lasana Fofana, a local farmer, told Xinhua.
Gambia was one of the largest exporters of groundnut three decades ago in the sub-region. But according to agriculture lecturer and expert in climate change Sidat Yaffa, the leading factor affecting low productivity of groundnut is climate change.
“First and the main reason is the climatic factor, because rainfall would not come on time,” he said.
“Before the 1990, The Gambia used to have about five months of rainfall and it used to come heavily. The average per year would be 1000 millilitres. Today, rain fall has gone down and some parts of the country have an average of 800 milliliters which is not sufficient enough to produce groundnut,” he said.
But in terms of diversifying or shifting from groundnut as a cash crop, he suggested the adoption of cotton and sesame, arguing that cotton had its glorious moments for farmers in the Upper River Region (east of The Gambia) and it was exportable.
“The cotton should be revived in order to give more economic incentives to Gambian farmers. Another crop that could be introduced which could be processed here locally for our consumption mainly is sesame crop,” said the expert.
Nyang Njie, an economist, suggested cashew to replace groundnut as cash crop, stating that what worked three decades ago cannot work today.
“Our major cash crop groundnut has suffered significant setback in the sense that the Gambian groundnut in the 70s was very good, because it was used for all the major chocolate factories in the world. But of late our groundnut deteriorated to the point it is either good for oil or animal feeds,” he explained.
According to Njie, the value has significantly gone down, considering the total tonnage that they normally produce on a yearly basis.
Director of Agriculture Department Saikou E. Sanyang admitted the low productivity of groundnut in recent times.
“The alternative can be cotton. Cotton needs a lot of input, especially fertilizer and agro-chemical. But if all these are put in place and the market is available, it can do well,” Sanyang stressed.
According to the Gambia Investments and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), Gambia has the potential to produce 250,000 metric tone (MT) of groundnuts in addition to 40,000 MT of sesame. However, the country lacks modern mills needed to process these products.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, about 80 percent of 2 million Gambians are depending on agriculture for its food and cash income. The country has 558,000 hectares of very good quality arable land, of which only 200,000 hectares are currently under rain fed agricultural production.
Published in courtesy of Xinhua
There is good reason for diversification, not only in the types of crops but reclaiming and development of new farm land and creation of irrigation system that will make our farmers less dependent on rainfall fluctuations due to climate change. This is what I think:
1. Move to other cash producing crops as stated.
2. Encourage investors to invest in mechanized farming.
3. Government should partner with stakeholders to develop irrigation system that will guarantee water to farms.
4. Subsidize fertilizer to farmers.
5. Government must engage in a national pest control and disease modification of crops to farmers.
6. Don’t steal farm subsidy received from our foreign partners.
God Help our Farmers.
There is still high levels of corruption in the Gambia that’s why I get angry.
Here’s my take on this topic:
1. Dr Sidat Yaffa and Nyang Njai don’t hold the requisite background and/or authority to speak for Gambian agriculture. Climate change is not the “leading factor” but the nonchalant approach to doing business in The Gambia. Measly government investments in agriculture have, for too long, been diverted to other avenues.
2. Diversification, yes but it’s all about choices made now and in the future that’ll fit the international marketing model. Otherwise, let’s focus on feeding a hungry Gambia first.
3. The Gambia has never been a leading producer of groundnuts in the sub region. That’s a stretch.
4. The Gambia has been toying with Sesame production since the early days of the Catholic Relief Services (CRS). No headway was made as the GOTG officials were never serious about replicating the program at the national level. At a meeting in Atlanta, GA that brought together what’s called AMCHAM-GAMBIA, The Minister of Agriculture, GCAA to sell The Gambia as the place to do business, nothing could be more disheartening. When the Director of Planning pf the Ministry of Agriculture, one Mbaye Jabang was asked about The Gambia’s annual output of Sesame, he could neither give a definitive answer nor make a commitment to dig up numbers. Tells us something, right? Harvesting of Per Diem allowances was at the top of their agenda on this trip.
5. The international FOB price per tonne for fertilizer is way cheaper than what it’s ever sold for in The Gambia. Why sell for D700 for a 40 Kg bag?? It’s all a rip off. Whenever fertilizer shows up in The Gambia, the bulk of it makes it across our borders or gets caked up in storage on account of the exorbitant prices.. So no need for subsidies if Gambian government officials will do the right thing.
6. It will be an absolute waste of time going back to cotton production in the URR. We still can’t compete with the major producers in the sub region in the absence of donor subsidies and it’s not assured that with the state of our technologies, The Gambia can attract premium prices. “Exportable cotton” but at what price?
7. I maintain that the groundnut crop has all along been going downhill from when Gambians started looting the economy and putting square pegs in round holes! Yep, you have every reason to be angry Tafel!
8. Where The Gambia doesn’t work to attract serious investments in the technologies required to bring about and support commercial scale agricultural production, we will remain at the subsistence level and everything else will be wishful thinking.
9. Nations that are dead serious about turning their fortunes around can be seen investing in Animal Breeding Centers, Veterinary Research Laboratories, Plant Breeding Stations, Germplasm Banks, full fledged seed companies and the whole gamut in support of national agricultural plans. They do not invest in massive projects when it is clear that the foundations for success have not been laid.
The Gambia has been talking about diversification since I was a little boy but even rice production to attain self sufficiency has remained elusive.
10. The GAF may be on to something with the commitment to self sufficiency through agriculture. Maybe and just maybe, public corporations that keep hemorrhaging funds could follow suit to turn things around.
Folks, donkey drawn Sine Hoes, Daba Ndingolu, Daba Jangolu, Sohh Sohh and Kajandaku are great for nostalgia but our salvation lies with mechanized and irrigated agriculture in the hinterland. Let’s start talking about autonomous water management districts, Farm Services, Credit Unions and Agricultural Finance Agencies.
How about SOYBEANS for consumption, oil and exports. Anybody remember the Corn-Soy-Milk (CSM) mixture from elementary school?
Enough of the talking! Let’s put our heads to work! Enough of the meetings, workshops and donor funded PROJECTS!! They’re all milking mechanisms!!
Lest we forget! Our neighbouring countries especially Senegal, are growing the same crops for cash and are doing it better at a larger scale and better quality than us. We have to do a complete overhaul of our agricultural industry if we are to continue depending on agriculture as the major component in our GDP growth.
Stop telling us the same tales about diversification while we have CORRUPT, INCOMPETENT NONENTITIES at the helm of our country’s affairs.
You are kidding yourselves about mechanised farming, irrigation as an alternative, cooperatives etc, etc.
These initiatives will never happen under the HOPELESS Barrow administration with Bax, Bajaw and Co staunchly supporting an administration they visibly see as dysfunctional, corrupt an inefficient.
Unless Barrow is unceremoniously whisked out in December, the stalemate in all our desires to improve will remain.
Babu Soli, you know very well that I am not a supporter of Barrow. I have absolutely no doubt that Barrow, like Jawara and Jammeh before him, and the many neoliberal, small-scale dependent capitalists models of development dogmatists on the ground (UDP, NRP, GMC, GNDP, NCP, PPP,etc), parading themselves around as different from one another, but actually the same in every respect except names and party colours, are just a bunch of clueless, opportunistic adventurer politicians, clamouring for control of the National cake for self development.
They have no answers to our development needs (except to further enslave us by mortgaging our futures through endless borrowing and wasteful spending), to our chronic problems and our seemingly insurmountable generational predicaments, and would be a complete waste of time and resources, if elected to office, just like Jawara and Jammeh have been for us.
As for Mr President Barrow, I am in agreement with the views that he is incompetent and unsuitable for the job, and should do the honourable thing and step down after 3 Years. I also agree that he has lied to win our by votes by campaigning on a shortened 3 Year Coalition Presidential Term, but subsequently reneging on that campaign promise.
Whilst I view this as an act of betrayal, deceit and untrustworthiness, I do not think it constitutes enough legitimate grounds to rise up to force his removal, especially given the volatility of our situation.
I think my reasons for this position and my respect for the rights of those who hold different positions from mine are well known.
Bax,
I always take you on your words honestly and seriously. Believe it or not.
What really disappoints and angers me, which I do not take lightly, is the monkey game of our STUPID, IDIOTIC, SELFISH, INCOMPETENT and VERY CORRUPT leaders and their henchmen who play around with the talents, potentials and brilliance of our illustrous younger generation. Children who are indeed prepared to gracefully and majestically redeem our country(ies) from their current socio-politico and social predicaments.
Every revolution requires sacrifices. Every revolution has costs, on blood, life and properties.
We’ll shed that blood, lose that life and forego that property to see that LIES entrenched in CORRUPTION and LOOTING of public resources never go uncheckered.
December will be here!!!
Babu Soli, you must make a commitment to always read between the lines even when the topic of the day is unsavory. Or else you’d be missing out on a lot!
You seem to take the Gambian attitude of, BULL’EN MA GEYTEN, meaning I couldn’t be bothered in Wolof. How else would you bring yourself to digesting ideas if you wouldn’t take the time to read and listen. You wouldn’t be a happy man if your kids wouldn’t listen to you but instead look you in the face to tell you that you belong of old.
Take a cue from my humble self that’s committed to being a reader on this forum. And believe me when I say that I do learn a lot from the savvy contributors n this medium.
I truly believe that you’re a good person at heart (no coaxing here) and if you’d stop the swearing, I’d pledge to join you to link hands in the protest march against the “Barrow 5 Years” group of scoundrels. Did I just say scoundrels? Yes, I did! Three Years Jotna it is Babu to root out the corrupt, sleeping and inept leadership in place. I ain’t looking for a job or favors under this or a UDP administration!!
Does anyone see a Wusainou and BB coalition of convenience down the road?
KULUNGO TEYE TA NANG NEH. Meaning we’ve arrived in Manding.