Africa-Press – Gambia. Residents of Upper and Lower Niumi and Jokadu constituencies have appealed to President Adama Barrow to increase groundnut prices ahead of the upcoming trade season.
The appeal was made during the President’s “Meet the People Tour” held in Maka Bala Manneh village, where Omar Joof, a youth leader speaking on behalf of the three constituencies, highlighted the challenges facing groundnut farmers in the region.
“We work hard to produce groundnuts, but the prices we get at the seccos are not encouraging,” Joof told President Barrow and his delegation. “We want the price of groundnuts to be increased this coming season so that our efforts can be rewarded.”
He further lamented the difficulties farmers encounter in receiving payments after selling their produce to government buying points. According to him, farmers are often directed to banks for payment, only to be told that payment forms are unavailable.
Joof emphasized that after eight months of hard labor, farmers deserve to enjoy the fruits of their efforts. He also appealed for the construction of feeder roads to link nearby villages, naming several routes that require urgent attention.
Beyond agriculture, Joof revealed that the communities of Maka Bala Manneh and Kerr Pateh Kalla had constructed a hospital on their own but lack resident doctors and proper fencing. He appealed to the President for support in upgrading the facility.
“Where we are meeting is a lower basic school,” Joof added. “We would like it to be upgraded to a basic cycle school, with proper fencing, tables, chairs, and housing for teachers.”
Other speakers at the meeting echoed the need for better infrastructure and support for farmers. Nyaha Ndong, speaking on behalf of women in the area, thanked President Barrow for extending electricity to their communities and reducing the meter connection fee from D7,000 to D500.
Responding to the concerns, Minister of Agriculture Demba Sabally announced that over D1.07 billion has been allocated to the agriculture sector, reaffirming the government’s commitment to farmers. He disclosed that a major cold storage facility is being constructed in Maka Farafenni to preserve garden produce and reduce post-harvest losses.
“Five new gardens are being developed in Lower and Upper Niumi and Jokadu, and they are already 90 percent complete,” Minister Sabally revealed.
President Barrow, in his address, reiterated his government’s dedication to improving the livelihoods of rural communities, assuring residents of continuous development across Lower and Upper Niumi and Jokadu.
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