Gambia’s Agriculture Committee Calls for Standardised Pricing for Farmers

The Agriculture Committee of the National Assembly of The Gambia has recommended the introduction of a standardised pricing mechanism for farmers to ensure fair compensation and more stable incomes in the country’s groundnut sector.

The proposal is contained in the committee’s report following a study tour to the facilities of Société Nationale de Commercialisation des Oléagineux du Sénégal (SONACOS) in Kaolack, Senegal.

The report was presented before the National Assembly on Thursday for consideration and adoption by lawmakers.

Vice-chair of the committee, Amie Colley, said the visit allowed members to observe first-hand the operational model of Senegal’s groundnut processing and marketing system.

She said the tour provided insight into farmer engagement practices, pricing structures and quality control procedures, while also enabling the delegation to assess value addition, by-product utilisation and export strategies within the industry.

The study visit took place from January 13 to 16, 2026, under a memorandum of understanding signed in March 2025 between the National Food Security Processing and Marketing Corporation of The Gambia and SONACOS.

During the tour, SONACOS director Fine Diouf outlined the company’s strict quality assurance procedures. The director explained that the firm prioritises the purchase of clean groundnuts and applies a systematic sampling method to every truckload delivered to its processing facilities.

Lawmakers later adopted the report and commended the committee for undertaking the study tour, noting that the experience provided insights that could help strengthen The Gambia’s groundnut trade and agro-processing sector.

SONACOS operates one of the largest groundnut processing facilities in Senegal and plays a central role in the country’s oilseed processing and marketing industry. The committee described the company as an important regional player in agro-processing and a valuable reference point for policymakers in The Gambia.