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Momodou
Denmark
11840 Posts |
 Posted - 21 Mar 2007 : 23:46:36
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GROUNDNUT TRADE SEASON IN LIMBO
By Yaya Dampha
Foroyaa has reliably learned that the 2006/2007 groundnut trade season is in limbo Reports have it that the Seccos are not functioning and this is hampering the marketing of groundnut..
This reporter contacted farmers across the country, in a bid to find out some of the problems they are currently grappling with.
A farmer in Jappineh said Chief Yaya Jarjussey who represents the Cooperative Union in that area went to them and told them that a vehicle will go round to collect nuts and take them to Tendaba. He said those whose nuts were collected, are yet to be paid. Another farmer in Bureng said they have decided to sell their nuts at the weekly market (lumo). The farmer said most of them have less than the minimum quantity (five tonnes) that groundnut dealers buy from farmers, noting that those who have over five tonnes to sell are either finding it hard to transport their nuts to faraway depots or accept selling their nuts on credit..
A farmer in Geniere said that, a few weeks ago, a private buyer came to their village with trucks from Senegal and bought their nuts on the spot. He said that, almost, all the farmers around Kiang Central sold their nuts to this buyer. Farmers in Njai Kunda and Mamut Fana said their nuts were bought by private buyers. The farmer said many of them were unable to transport their nuts to Kudang.
Farmers in the South Bank of Central River Region said they all have to go to Kaur or sell their nuts at the weekly markets (lumos).
Many farmers, elsewhere in the country have given similar complaints in selling their nuts.
The idea of centralized buying in the regions is affecting farmers.
When contacted, chief Yaya Jarjusey denied his involvement in this year’s trade season. He said he is representing the cooperative union in the region which is not engaged in the buying of nuts this year. He however said he was aware of the farmer’s platform which is engaged in collecting nuts for onward transportation to Konkoba.
When I called the chairman of the farmers’ platform, Mr. Musa Jawneh, he said his association in collaboration with the GGC took nuts from the (LRD) Lower River Region to Konkoba. He said those farmers were paid after the second week of delivering their groundnuts. He further informed our reporter that he is also aware of certain people going round the country collecting nuts from farmers without paying them on the pretext that they are taking the nuts to the GGC deport in Konkoba. He said he is going round the country so that he can find out who these people are and why they are not paying farmers their monies. He promised to inform Foroyaa of his findings.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 33/2007, 21 – 22 March 2007
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