As Marketing Begins Today

The groundnut price for the 2007/2008 marketing season has been set at D7, 200.00 per ton. The season, which is expected to start today, is to be run and managed by the Agribusiness Services & Producers Association (ASPA), the Inter-professional body charged with the responsibility of managing the Gambian groundnut sub-sector.

In a press release sent to this paper, the ASPA underlined its pleasure to announce the price for groundnut and the date of commencement of the marketing season. “The Agribusiness Services & Producers Association (ASPA), which is the Inter-professional body vested with the Management of the Gambian Groundnut Sub-sector, is pleased to announce a Groundnut Producer Price of D7, 200.00 per metric ton farm gate for the 2007/8 Groundnut Marketing Season. ASPA also wishes to declare Monday 10th December 2007 as the official start date for this year’s groundnut-marketing season in The Gambia,” the release stated.

The ASPA therefore called on all Co-operative Marketing Societies (CPMS), private traders and agents wishing to participate in groundnut buying at primary (secco) levels to prepare their equipment and clean their seccos accordingly. It further advised “all those wishing to participate in this year’s groundnut marketing season that they must register with ASPA, be issued with a registration certificate and to comply with the Eligibility Criteria for Participation in the 2007/2008 Groundnut Marketing which, amongst other things, requires prompt payment to the farmers for deliveries.”

The press release further stated: “Groundnut producers are hereby assured that this year’s producer price was arrived at using the officially recognised Producer Price Determination Mechanism, which takes into account the World Market Price for Groundnut Products as well as parameters and ratios relevant to the domestic marketing system. This year’s price is an increase of D700.00 per metric ton over last year’s price and compares quite favourably with what pertains in the sub-region.

“Farmers are therefore urged to sell their produce through the existing marketing outlets.”

The release concludes with ASPA’s appeal for co-operation of all and sundry to make the marketing season a success.