By Lamin Kujabi
His Excellency President Adama Barrow last week visited some production and processing centres in the Greater Banjul Area, to assess the country’s production and processing capacity.
His first port of call was the groundnut processing factory of the National Food Security Processing and the Marketing Corporation (NFSPMC) at Saro, Denton Bridge.
The President inspected all the facilities within the groundnut factory, as well as the premises of the NFSPMC, including the Gach basalt processing company.
After the tour, President Adama Barrow reminded the gathering that The Gambia has been engaging in agriculture since the colonial time with groundnut being its main cash crop.
“When we purchase these groundnuts, we export them raw, it does not add value. If you do not add value you do not compete,’’ he asserted.
He went on: “This is why my government decided to change the narrative. We have to process whatever we produce in this country. That is why we are building a plant to process the groundnuts to have good oil and cake.’’
The President lamented the country’s import cost, arguing that the country has the capacity to produce oil and others for local consumption.
He expressed optimism that the new plan would address key issues the nation is grappling with, and that his visit underscores his government’s commitment to national development.
His emphasis on increasing local processing and reducing the dependency on oil imports demonstrates a broader vision for self-sufficiency.
President Barrow went on to highlight the significant losses incurred during the exportation of groundnuts, despite being a major cash crop. He stressed the necessity for the country to process its raw materials to enhance economic stability and reduce reliance on oil imports, which cost millions of Dalasis and contribute to inflation.
Meanwhile, the President and delegation of cabinet ministers and advisers were warmly welcomed by GGC officials, followed by a comprehensive tour of the facility. He therefore called on project officials to expedite work to ensure the successful realisation of this mega project, reinforcing his administration’s focus on development and economic growth.
Muhammed Njie, Managing Director of NFSPMC, said the President’s visit signified the government’s dedication to improving food production in the country.
The President and entourage later proceeded to lay the foundation stone of a new office complex for GCC inside the Corporation.
The project, according to officials, is funded by the Islamic Development Bank through a loan. When it is operational, it will process more than 300 tons per day of nuts.
At the Gach company’s basalt depot located in the NFSPMC premises, the President commended Abubacarr Jawara, CEO of Gach Company for the initiative and expressed delight that this created opportunity for cost cutting and time saving. He recalled that The Gambia had only one source of basalt, Senegal, and lamented the fact that vehicles would spend two or more weeks in Senegal with only two trips in a month, which, he said is very expensive.
