Joe, You might have seen this one too.I only hope that those who received the
Tractors from the President are benifiting from it.

For Freedom
Saiks


Tragedy for Trade Season Again! Farmers Forced Into Credit Buying



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The Independent (Banjul)

February 25, 2002
Posted to the web February 26, 2002

Banjul

Tragedy has once again hit the groundnut trade season, leaving desperate
farmers with one alternative to sell their nuts to local buyers from
neighboring Senegal or through black marketing if they want to escape credit
buying.

Reliable sources at the Department of Agriculture told The Independent that
many farmers took their crops for sale at the turn of the new year without
receiving their money. They highlighted that some farmers may hit a dive of
financial strait, leaving them unable to buy rams for the forthcoming tobaski
feast. Sources stated that since the disagreement and seizure of the assets of
the Gambia Groundnut Cooperation (GGC) by the government, a serious question
was opened regarding the purchase of groundnuts in the 1999/2000 trade season,
with the trend carrying into this year.

They claimed that the 1999/2000 and 2000/2001 groundnut trade seasons were
said to be years of disaster but the 2001/2 season will be a national
catastrophe.

However, many farmers who spoke to The Independent showed interest in selling
their nuts hence according to them there are always satisfied with the after
since it will not be in the form of credit buying and will not be destroyed by
pests.

Disappointed farmers who engaged in credit buying expressed pessimism over
whether they would receive their money before the tobaski feast.

"We are very disappointed because just few months ago we were told that this
year's groundnuts trade season was going to be different but see how things
are going" an aggrieved farmer in Ndungu Kebbeh said.

Another farmer from Kerr Jarga lamented that they sometimes face disrespect
from local buyers.

"We have to bear with that because the government we rely on cannot provide
for our needs and these people are having what we need. So there is no other
option but to be patient" he added. Quizzed about the price of their produce,
Pa Secka said "we do not expect them to buy our produce at a high price and
attract little profit at the end of the day".



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