The following is from Burning Issues (FOROYAA Publication) Thursday, 1 March
2001
***************************

38,000 Tonnes Of Groundnuts Bought So Far:
Trade Season Near Ending

The Department of State for Agriculture headed by the Secretary of State Mr.
Hassan Sallah called a press conference yesterday 28th February 2001 to
clarify and to update information with regards to the 2000/2001 groundnut
trade season.

Present were Mr. Badara Loum, the Desk Officer at the Department of State
for agriculture, Mr. Ansumana Makalo of ASPA, other officials and a cross
section of the press.
In his introductory remarks, the SoS for Agriculture said the purpose of the
press conference was to explain what has been happening with regards to the
marketing of groundnuts for the 2000/2001 trade season. He informed the
press that they have an opportunity to put their case in parliament but he
said, it is important to also see the press. He emphasised that government
is not the buyer of the groundnuts but is only facilitating the process.

Mr. Sallah opined that the marketing of groundnuts this year is far better
than the previous years. He said they have started the season earlier by
22nd of November to be precise, He said all the nuts bought this year are
bought exclusively by private operators. He opined that this will promote
the privatisation in this country. He also mentioned the processing of nuts
by the private sector and expressed optimism that in the near future, the
country would have a refinery. He said this year's season is going to be the
shortest season in our marketing history.

Mr. Sallah estimated that about 38,000 tonnes of groundnuts have been bought
so far and the amount of groundnuts reaching the seccos have significantly
declined. He attributed the decline to two opinions, i.e.; perhaps the
marketable nuts are still withholding their nuts only to bring them later to
the seccos when they see money being available.

The SoS also named Hilo as the main buyer this year, purchasing over 33,000
tonnes and Premier Oil purchasing some 3, 000 or so tonnes; that the total
amount of groundnuts deposited at the seccos is well over 88 million dalasis
but the outstanding amount to be settled trickles down to about 6.5 million
dalasis.  He informed the press of the plans to settle this amount
immediately after the Tobaski.

Mr. Sallah admitted that there were problems in the year's season mainly in
the URD in such places as Jah Kunda where it takes time for money to reach
there, He however reiterated that credit buying is necessary but emphasised
that  excessive credit buying was detrimental to the farmers. He also
mentioned the decorticating plant in Denton Bridge and Kaur. He said Denton
Bridge which is functioning has decorticated over 15,000 tonnes so far but
Kaur has not been operating. Suwaibou Touray of the FOROYAA Newspaper
informed the secretary of state about farmers who perhaps may had lost
confidence in the credit buying scheme, kept their nuts with them until now
but when they take their nuts to the seccos, they are rejected on the
premises that their nuts are infected with pests. He asked the SoS whether
he has seen any evidence of that during his tour of the seccos?

The Secretary of State, in his reply, said they have not come across much of
that during their tour but opined that such problems can be expected and
that is why they encouraged all farmers to take their nuts to the seccos as
early as possible. He said this year's pest infection has been drastically
reduced because nuts are regularly treated at the seccos.

FOROYAA also urged the Secretary of State to use the influence of his office
to urge or create  interim measures that would settle farmers before Tobaski
who are owed by the operators because as it is, 6.5 million dalasis may be
small but when put against the number of farmers who are affected, it can be
a lot of them since some may be owed only 200 dalasis, 500 etc. and they
need these to buy clothes etc. for their kids for the Tobaski.

The Secretary of State acknowledged that but stressed that the fact that too
much of pressure has already been exerted on the operators. He said they
would continue to press for early payment but knowing the problem of the
operators also, that their ships now go to South Africa, some via Western
Europe, "all these takes time", he said. He then reiterated the promise that
after the Tobaski, this would be paid and urge farmers to bear with the
operators.

FOROYAA's last question deals with the amount that is so far bought as very
minimal when the estimate products was 127, 000 tonnes. How do they explain
the huge difference .

The Secretary of State said the same question were raised in the National
Assembly; that what many people do not realise is the amount of nuts
consumed locally. He estimated that in the range of 15, 000 tonnes. He
however said, perhaps the Department need to look at the statistics again;
that fortunately they would be on their sample survey which would help them
in that regard; but added that many reasons can be responsible for the
difference such as those who might have taken their nuts across the border.
Suwaibou Touray of the FOROYAA gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the
press.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, go to the Gambia-L
Web interface at: http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html
You may also send subscription requests to [log in to unmask]
if you have problems accessing the web interface and remember to write your full name and e-mail address.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------