Farmers in The Gambia's Sabach Sanjal District are increasingly adopting upland rice cultivation, with locals in Misira Mbayen, Pallen Wollof, and Ngayen Sanjal shifting from cash crops like groundnut to large rice farms. This development marks a departure from past decades, when rice cultivation was primarily confined to swampy areas, as several farmers now grow rice in upland fields each crop season. Fafa Mbye was among the first farmers to cultivate rice on upland fields in Misira Mbayen in recent years. Mbye stated, "I registered a high yield when I first grew rice, and that convinced me to be cultivating it every year now." He added, "From that moment, I knew it was a major breakthrough that could influence many farmers in my village." Mbye noted the economic benefits, noting, "With my rice produce, I am no longer pressured to sell to middlemen at cutthroat prices only to buy rice when seccos lack cash." He explained, "I normally feed on my cultivated rice during the groundnut trading season, and that helps to keep my groundnut produce until the seccos have money to buy with cash."
Upland Rice Cultivation Takes Root
Reporters visited Misira Mbayen, Pallen Wollof, and Ngayen Sanjal last weekend to observe the progress of upland rice cultivation. Fafa Mbye, an early adopter of the practice in Misira Mbayen, reported a successful initial harvest. "I registered a high yield when I first grew rice, and that convinced me to be cultivating it every year now," Fafa Mbye stated, adding, "From that moment, I knew it was a major breakthrough that could influence many farmers in my village." He noted that his rice produce alleviates pressure to sell groundnuts prematurely. "With my rice produce, I am no longer pressured to sell to middlemen at cutthroat prices only to buy rice when seccos lack cash," he explained, continuing, "I normally feed on my cultivated rice during the groundnut trading season, and that helps to keep my groundnut produce until the seccos have money to buy with cash." Fafa Mbye also noted the challenges farmers face when trading groundnuts: "Given that the trading points 'seccos' normally buy groundnut on credit when cash elapses, some farmers who run out of feeding would desperately offer their produce to businessmen."
Omar Mbye initially harbored skepticism regarding upland rice cultivation, noting that the prevailing myth that rice does not flourish on upland areas made him wary. He reported that his community has seen a reduction in rice purchases since the adoption of the new method. "We have not been buying rice the way we used to do when we had not commenced upland rice cultivation in recent years," Omar Mbye said. Katim Gaye owns a rice farm that is notably advanced compared to others in the region, with plants transitioning from flowering to grain production. Omar Mbye expressed concerns about the reliance on rainfall for crop development, stating, "My rice crop started flowering, which requires adequate rainfall for its grains to grow to maturity." He warned, "If rains do not continue to come, I would register a poor harvest as most of the crops do not even complete flowering." Omar Mbye called for government support, advocating, "I want the government to prioritise rice cultivation both on land and on water by providing farm machinery and capital to increase production."
Challenges and Farmer Strategies
Despite initial successes, farmers in Sabach Sanjal District face ongoing challenges, particularly concerning rainfall and land access. Omar Mbye, though previously expressing concerns about inconsistent rains affecting flowering crops, conveyed slight optimism about achieving high productivity this year. He has also applied both fertiliser and urea to his rice field, a common practice to support crop development. Mbye earlier noted, "we have not been buying rice the way we used to do when we had not commenced upland rice cultivation in recent years," indicating the impact of the new methods. However, he cautioned, "My rice crop started flowering, which requires adequate rainfall for its grains to grow to maturity," adding, "If rains do not continue to come, I would register a poor harvest as most of the crops do not even complete flowering." Omar Mbye reiterated his call for governmental intervention, stating, "I want the government to prioritise rice cultivation both on land and on water by providing farm machinery and capital to increase production."
Land availability remains a significant hurdle for some farmers. Kebba Drammeh, who previously cultivated rice, has not planted this year because the farm he had reserved was abruptly taken by the owner. Drammeh reflected on his previous harvest, saying, "My family ate it for months before it finished," and asserted, "I will always cultivate rice from now on, because, as the head of an extended family, I cannot be buying rice and fulfilling basic family needs. I had to look for an alternative." In Ngayen Sanjal, rice farmer Ousman Mbye indicated his field does not appear promising due to limited rains, noting, "We need more rain to have a good yield." Ousman Mbye acknowledged he sprayed herbicides to manage weeds around his crops. He added, "This week, we had two good rains and long may it continue."
Food Security and Economic Benefits
Fafa Mbye of Misira Mbayen cultivated rice on half a hectare of land this year, a practice he adopted after successful initial harvests. "I registered a high yield when I first grew rice, and that convinced me to be cultivating it every year now," Mbye stated, adding, "From that moment, I knew it was a major breakthrough that could influence many farmers in my village." He noted the economic advantages, noting that the rice harvest reduces his reliance on selling groundnuts prematurely. "I used to sell groundnuts sometimes on credit to buy rice for my family’s feeding," Mbye explained. He elaborated that "with my rice produce, I am no longer pressured to sell to middlemen at cutthroat prices only to buy rice when seccos lack cash." Mbye added, "I normally feed on my cultivated rice during the groundnut trading season, and that helps to keep my groundnut produce until the seccos have money to buy with cash."
Kebba Drammeh of Pallen Wollof reported harvesting eight bags of unthreshed rice from his farm last year. Drammeh confirmed the direct impact on his household's food security, stating, "My family ate it for months before it finished." He emphasized the importance of this shift for his family's well-being. "I will always cultivate rice from now on, because, as the head of an extended family, I cannot be buying rice and fulfilling basic family needs. I had to look for an alternative," Drammeh said. As the rainy season begins to conclude, rice farmers in the district are hoping that continued downpours in October will enable them to achieve a good yield from their current crops.