Groundnut farmers in Jokadou District of The Gambia's North Bank Region are awaiting payment for produce delivered during the last trade season, even as they begin planting for the 2026/2027 cropping season. Many farmers who sold groundnuts to government-approved buying centres months ago have yet to receive their money. The groundnut trade season officially concluded on March 31, 2026. However, several months later, a number of farmers remain unpaid despite having delivered their produce through government-recognised buying centres.
Delayed Payments Cripple Farmers
The prolonged delay in groundnut payments has left numerous farmers unable to acquire essential agricultural inputs such as fertilizer and seeds at the commencement of the new farming season. Farmers in Jokadou District, and across The Gambia, are now entering the planting period for the 2026/2027 cropping season, facing significant financial constraints due to the outstanding debts. Many had delivered their groundnuts to government-approved buying centres months ago, with the trade season officially concluding on March 31, 2026. The continued lack of payment for their previous harvest directly impacts their capacity to invest in the current crop, potentially affecting future yields and food security. The situation notes a critical challenge for agricultural communities relying on timely income from their produce to sustain their operations.
Government's Direct Payment Plan
The Gambian government has announced plans to directly compensate affected farmers, stating it will simultaneously pursue legal action against the defaulting Cooperative Marketing Societies (CPMS), commonly referred to as Seccos. This decision follows reports that several Seccos allegedly failed to pay farmers for their groundnut harvests despite having already received the necessary funds from the government. These funds were disbursed through the National Food Security Cooperative (NFSC), an entity formerly known as the Gambia Groundnut Corporation (GGC).
To prevent a recurrence of payment delays and safeguard farmers' interests, the government has decided that all future payments will be made directly to the farmers rather than being channeled through the Seccos. This new approach aims to ensure that producers receive their dues promptly and directly from the government, bypassing intermediaries that have been implicated in the current payment issues. The move signifies a shift in the government's strategy for managing groundnut payments, reflecting a commitment to address the financial hardships faced by farmers in the North Bank Region and beyond.
Verification and Legal Action
The government has resolved to compensate affected farmers directly while legal proceedings are pursued against the Cooperative Marketing Societies (CPMS) presidents alleged to have withheld payments. Lamin Sanyang, Deputy Managing Director of the National Food Security Cooperative (NFSC), confirmed that the government has instructed the corporation to compensate all affected farmers directly after verification of their claims. "Our team is currently doing the verification to authenticate those farmers that are affected," Sanyang stated, adding, "We authenticate the receipt, the number of kilos each farmer is owed by the particular CPMS."
The NFSC will continue verifying claims before payments are made, while legal action is pursued against the defaulting Seccos accused of failing to pay farmers despite receiving government funds for that purpose. Sanyang emphasized the necessity of this process, saying, "You cannot pay like that. You have to authenticate, you have to confirm, and then confirm the PR — the Purchase Receipt Order — and the receipt." The corporation is currently verifying the identities of the affected farmers, the quantities of groundnuts they supplied, and the amounts owed before any disbursements.
"We are paying all the farmers affected. It is the government, and you cannot settle one and leave the other one," Sanyang explained. He further clarified the new payment mechanism: "We are paying directly to the farmers, not the Seccos. We are not paying to any Secco to avoid any abnormality again. We are paying each particular farmer that is affected." Sanyang indicated that some farmers took their groundnuts to the Seccos, and the Secco executives "know very well that they were given the money to pay them, and they did not pay them," causing significant delays for farmers. "This is why the government came up with the decision that the affected farmers should be paid while we pursue those CPMS presidents that have done that act," he concluded.
Farmer Hopes and Concerns
Farmers Musa Ceesay, Hamat Bah, and Mbaye Chune, all residing in Turo Alasan, expressed positive reactions to the government's intervention regarding delayed groundnut payments. The farmers stated they had not received formal notification about the government's decision to directly compensate them and pursue legal action against defaulting Cooperative Marketing Societies (CPMS). Despite the lack of official communication, they welcomed the development, indicating a general awareness and approval of the government's stated intent to resolve the payment issues. Their sentiment reflects the broader anticipation among agricultural communities for a resolution to the outstanding payments from the last trade season, which concluded on March 31, 2026. The direct compensation plan aims to alleviate the financial strain that has impacted farmers' ability to prepare for the current 2026/2027 cropping season.
