By: Fatou Krubally
The National Assembly’s Select Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development has recommended the adoption of a 2% threshold on dust and foreign materials in groundnuts at buying depots, following a benchmarking visit to Senegal’s processing facilities operated by SONACOS.
The study tour, led by Hon. Omar Darboe from 13–16 January 2026, provided Gambian lawmakers with first-hand exposure to SONACOS’ stringent quality control systems, including systematic sampling methods and laboratory screening for aflatoxins.
According to the committee’s report, introducing a similar threshold in The Gambia would help safeguard food safety, protect export markets and ensure better returns for farmers.
“The 2% limit is a practical, enforceable standard that will immediately improve the quality of groundnuts processed in our country,” Darboe said. “It is a simple but powerful step toward modernising the sector and ensuring consumer safety.”
During the visit to Senegal, the delegation observed how SONACOS applies rigorous quality checks at several stages of the value chain, from the receipt and cleaning of groundnuts to processing and final dispatch.
The lawmakers noted that the company’s decentralised industrial model, combined with public–private partnerships, promotes accountability, efficiency and consistent product quality.
They said similar approaches could be adapted by the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC) and local Community Produce Marketing Societies (CPMS) in The Gambia.
Committee members also stressed the need to complement the proposed threshold with improved depot infrastructure, modern screening equipment and staff training.
They said such measures are essential to reducing post-harvest losses, preventing contamination and improving the competitiveness of Gambian groundnuts in regional and international markets.
The recommendation forms part of broader reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s groundnut sector, improving rural livelihoods and positioning The Gambia as a producer of high-quality and safe agricultural products.
The committee urged the Ministry of Agriculture and the NFSPMC to implement the 2% threshold without delay as a cornerstone of national groundnut quality standards.