By Kemo Kanyi
A groundnut farmer in Baddibu Gunjur, North Bank Region has said that farmers in the area are unable to sell their produce due to financial and transportation constraints affecting the local “Secco” (buying and selling point).
Lamin Camara told The Voice in a telephone interview on Monday that Secco management in Njaba Kunda informed farmers that it currently lacked funds to purchase additional groundnuts.
He says the situation has left many farmers distressed, as groundnut sales remain their primary source of income.
“We are still unable to sell our groundnuts,” Mr. Camara said. “The Secco management told us they already have groundnuts in stock that have not yet been transported to the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC), formerly the GGC depot. Until those are transported, they cannot buy more,” he remarked.
Mr. Camara says several farmers in the village, including Baba Touray, Yaya Daffeh, Tapha Ceesay and Lamin Nyarra Barrow, are facing similar difficulties. He adds that he currently has 24 bags of groundnuts in storage awaiting sale.
He also named Lang Jaiteh and Foday Gassama as members of the Secco management. Contacted for comment, Mr. Gassama confirmed that the Secco was facing transportation challenges and funding limitations.
He explains that the Secco has already purchased about 200 tonnes of groundnuts valued at approximately D8 million, which must be delivered to the NFSPMC before additional funds can be released.
“Our main challenge this year is transportation,” Mr. Gassama said. “Truck drivers prefer transporting cement because it can be offloaded within a day, while offloading groundnuts at the depot can take three to four days, making groundnut transportation less attractive.”
Mr. Gassama says the Secco is expecting funds from the NFSPMC on Monday to enable it resume purchasing groundnuts from farmers. He added that he had spoken to Mr. Fofana, who was responsible for disbursing funds to groundnut buyers, and was informed that payment was pending.
He notes that the Secco normally purchases about 400 tonnes of groundnuts each season and expresses optimism that the current situation will be resolved soon.
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