By: Binta Jaiteh
Three members of the National Assembly have expressed concerns regarding the possible shortage of groundnut seeds for the 2025 farming season, a situation exacerbated by the significant losses farmers faced during last year’s season.
Last year, the government purchased groundnuts from farmers at a price of 38,000 per tonne, reflecting an increase of nearly 20% compared to the previous year’s rate of 32,000 per tonne. However, Badibou Central lawmaker Sulayman Saho described last season as a complete failure. Illiasa lawmaker Sankung Dampha urged the government to supply more seeds to farmers, while Jokadu lawmaker Salifu Jawo asked the government to improve the livelihoods of farmers.
“Farmers invested a lot in the 2024 groundnut season, but in return, they received low prices from the government. When considering the costs of seeds, fertilizers, and other farming tools, the overall investment was substantial. Unfortunately, the expected returns from the government turned out to be disappointing,” Saho stated.
Saho emphasized that obtaining groundnut seeds this year will be challenging due to last year’s poor harvest, warning that the limited supply available to farmers will likely lead to increased prices for seeds. He noted that even when farmers manage to sell their small harvests to the seccos, they encounter numerous challenges, particularly as payments are processed through Q-Money, a system many cannot access.
Saho called on the Ministry of Agriculture to reconsider the Q-Money payment system, claiming it exploits farmers and contributes to corruption. “Farmers are suffering, yet the government seems to ignore their complaints and continues to make empty promises,” he stressed.
Sankung Dampha of Illiasa echoed the sentiment that last year’s groundnut season was a total failure. “I stand with my colleagues in urging the government to consider the farmers’ struggles,” he appealed.
Jokadu lawmaker Salifu Jawo highlighted that previously, one hectare of groundnut would yield more than half a tonne. “The outlook for the groundnut season in 2024 is discouraging, and the government needs to identify the reasons behind this failure,” he advised. “I worry that this year’s groundnut seeds will not be available as in previous years, which will adversely affect the farmers. We all know that farmers heavily rely on groundnuts for both consumption and as seed stock for the following year,” he added.