By: Haruna Kuyateh
The Arab Gambian Islamic Bank (AGIB)has started the payment of cash to peanut farmers in the North Bank Region few days after the government disbursed D500M to settle farmers’ liability and to buy more groundnuts.
Farmers from Sabach Sanjal, Njawara and Kerewan areas have gone to the various groundnut buying points to receive their cash.
Speaking to The Voice, the secco managers of Njawara, Farafenni, Minteh Kunda and Salikenni confirmed that all areas were settled by Agib and that the seccos have the capacity to buy more peanuts.
President of Njawara Secco, Sheikh Abas Bah, Secretary of Salikenni Secco and Alagie Jeng of Minteh Kunda have expressed delight in the development.
Njawara Secco received D1.6M and settled D1.5M arrears. It purchased 280 tons in 2024 and 20 tons in 2023. Minteh Kunda secco meanwhile received D4.2M to settle D3.950M. It purchased 265 tons in 2024 and 52 tons in 2023. Farafenni secco received D5M and settled all the arrears. Illiasa received D5M, paid D1.987.566M arrears and purchased 410 tons in 2024 as opposed to the 187 tons it purchased in 2023. Njaba Kunda received D2.8M, paid D2.6M and purchased 228 tons and 815 kilos in 2024. Kerewan Secco received D6M, paid D4,710, 000 arrears and purchased 542 tons in 2024.Saaba received D3.7M and settled all arrears to farmers. The seccopurchased 225 tons in 2024 and according to the seccomanager Foday Gassama, 114 tons was bought in 2023.
However, most of the secco managers were busy, paying farmers their monies but more efforts will be employed to reach out to them.
