Africa-Press – Gambia. Farmers across Sandu, Tumana, and Sami say they are increasingly turning to private buyers after the Gambian government announced that the official farm-gate price for groundnuts will remain unchanged for the 2025–26 trade season.
The government on Nov. 25 set the price at 38,000 dalasis per metric ton, a rate that many farmers say has stagnated for three years and no longer reflects rising costs or the economic pressures on rural households. The announcement has drawn criticism not only from growers but also from political figures and agricultural advocates.
In phone interviews, farmers expressed disappointment that the price was issued without consultation with producers, many of whom say they rely solely on groundnut farming to support their families.
“Our entire livelihood depends on this,” said Musa Jaiteh, a farmer from Taifa in the Sandu District. “We spend six months in the fields, and then the government sets a price that does nothing to improve our lives. Farming is what feeds our families, pays for our children’s health care, and school fees. Yet we keep moving backward.”
Jaiteh said that with no alternative source of income, farmers expected at least a modest increase in the price. “I was very disappointed when they announced it,” he said. “It is the same as last year.”
Other farmers voiced similar frustrations. Ba Sorry Balisa, from Kundam MaFatty in Tumana, said he is already negotiating with private buyers, who he believes offer greater convenience and sometimes better prices. “At least with private buyers, I do not have to pay to transport my groundnuts to the Seccos,” he said.
Balisa argued that the government should have sought input from producers before fixing the price. “They should have asked farmers to value their groundnuts first. Then we could negotiate,” he said, urging the Agriculture Ministry to meet with growers to understand their challenges.
In Sami Madina, Sulayman Krubally said the announcement “was really surprising,” noting that the stagnant price has discouraged farmers. Many in his village are now opting to sell at weekly lumos, where they hope to earn more. “Our responsibilities are huge,” he said. “If things do not change, we will continue to suffer.”
Beyond pricing, farmers cited other long-standing grievances. Some said government-supplied fertilizer arrived only near the end of the rainy season, long after it was needed. Others complained of costly transport to Seccos and delays in payment once their groundnuts are delivered.
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