Uphold Farmers' Dignity


The Point (Banjul)

January 8, 2001

Banjul

The news that credit buying is in progress at groundnut depots again is, to say
the least, very disturbing following last year's hardships encountered by
farmers, when they faced a similar situation.

We are troubled and alarmed that the less-privileged and less materially-endowed
citizens of this country might once again feel the brunt of credit buying. These
are the people who do not have constant electricity and water supply, no good
roads, no metropolitan amenities etc., etc. But they are our brothers and
sisters, equal to us in all that belongs to this country. Yet they are the least
privileged. And they have to take care of their families, pay rates and taxes,
school fees and so on like the rest of us.

The mistaken view that whosoever wants to criticise the situation, should step
in and buy the farmers' nuts is, to say the least, unacceptable, especially when
it comes from those who have been delegated to look after the well-being of the
Gambian people.

Government should understand the importance of the groundnut season to the
farming community.

The new cars, the donations, the overseas trips within and outside the country,
and so forth, should all be put on hold - until the totality of farmers'
production this year is bought.

Remember that Senegal has this year produced One Million tonnes of groundnuts.
So ours must be marketed as a matter of urgency.

Instead of denying the reports, efforts should be mounted to provide the needed
funds to government agents or firms engaged in the buying of peanuts, so that
our production would not eventually suffer owing to competition or other
factors.

Let there be enough funds to acquire the entire production, as well as for the
purchase of seednuts and fertilizer for the 2001 farming season.

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