Ebrima Jammeh, a groundnut farmer at Kiang Masembeh, Lower River Region (LRR), has expressed deep frustration over the non-payment of his produce, which amounts to D 87,419, well before the month of Ramadan (which falls between 19th February and 20th March 2026).
“We took our groundnut to the secco (Seasonal Export Cooperative Company in Genieri) well before the month of Ramadan, but we had not received our money up till now. This has put us in a very difficult situation,” Jammeh lamented.
The secco has closed
The National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC) has, in its February 7th 2026 periodic report, stated that a total of D1,671,468,493 worth of famers’ groundnut was acquired, of which, D1,320,196,093 was paid directly to seccos nationwide.
Speaking to CP, Jammeh, appearing very emotional, said he had on several occasions, engaged the Genieri secco president, Kolior Sanneh, about the situation of his unpaid money, but the response he keeps receiving was that those responsible for buying groundnut have asked the secco to submit a documents in other to receive another funds for payments, which the secco had already done and now waiting for the arrival of funds.
While Jammeh has acknowledged an instance where payments were made to many farmers, he said preferences were given to those government owing the secco less amount of money compared to his, resulting the initial delays.
“We all know how difficult the rainy season is. When you are in the rainy season, you keep borrowing money. Immediately after the season, you have to pay those debts and also fix some of your family’s needs,” Jammeh said. “My heart is heavy. Please! Let the government pay for our money by all means.”
He said he jointly works on his farm with his younger brothers and nephews, who, as of now, have most of their needs pending.
Jammeh is not alone in this struggle. Another farmer in Masembeh, Magay Ceesay, who had also handed over his groundnut to the Genieri secco well before the month of Ramadan, also expressed frustration over his unpaid D24,000.
“I already bought two trip of sand in order to construct my house, but I am unable to buy bags of cement,” Ceesay said, adding that he is a family man who had worked tirelessly during the month of Ramadan in order to construct his nearly dilapidated house.
Attempts to reach out to the secco president, Kolior Sanneh, was unsuccessful as calls to his known phone numbers did not go through.
When this reporter reached out to the Deputy Managing Director of the National Food Security, Processing and Marketing Corporation’s (NFSPMC) contact person, Lamin K. Sanyang, for comments, he stated: “Go and ask their Secco president about their Money,” adding, “He (the secco president) should know better.”
During his meeting with the Gambia Farmers’ Union (GFU) at his office on 24th March 2026, the minister responsible for agriculture, Demba Sabally, warned Seasonal Export Cooperative Companies presidents to promptly pay farmers or face legal consequences.
The statement came in response to reported payment disputes raised by the union.