Darboe Pledges to Restore Dignity and Profitability to Farming Under UDP-Led Government

By Seedy Jobe

The Secretary General and Party Leader of the United Democratic Party (UDP), ANM Ousainu Darboe, has pledged to transform The Gambia’s agricultural sector into a profitable and respected profession, promising improved access to quality seeds, modern farming equipment, and better economic opportunities for farmers if the UDP-led alliance wins the December 5 presidential election.

Speaking on Sunday at a GFC UDP-led Alliance rally in Busumbala, Mr. Darboe criticized the government’s treatment of farmers, accusing the administration of neglecting a sector that supports a significant portion of the country’s workforce.

He said that for three consecutive years, groundnut farmers had failed to receive the full benefits of their produce despite government announcements setting the price of groundnuts at D32,000 per ton.

Mr. Darboe contrasted the farmers’ struggles with what he described as annual salary increases for senior government officials over the same period, arguing that those responsible for sustaining the country’s agricultural economy had been left behind.

He accused the government of taking farmers for granted, alleging that officials routinely approach rural communities with promises during election campaigns but fail to deliver meaningful improvements to their livelihoods.

According to the UDP leader, farmers have been subjected to repeated disappointments while their contributions to the national economy remain undervalued.

Mr. Darboe said the UDP-led alliance had outlined its agricultural reform agenda during its manifesto launch at Paradise Suites, emphasizing that restoring farmers’ rights, dignity, and economic security would be a priority under an alliance government.

“We want Gambian farmers to be proud of themselves, to the point that even the Permanent Secretary will envy the farmers,” he said.

He explained that the alliance intends to make agriculture sufficiently profitable and attractive to command the same respect and economic security associated with senior positions in the civil service.

Outlining the proposed reforms, Mr. Darboe said a UDP-led government would prioritize the provision of high-quality seeds, particularly for groundnut farmers, to improve agricultural productivity.

He said the alliance would strengthen the National Agricultural Research Institute (NARI), enabling it to carry out its mandate more effectively and expand research and development into improved seed varieties for groundnuts and other crops.

However, Mr. Darboe stressed that access to quality seeds alone would not be sufficient to transform the sector without corresponding investments in agricultural machinery and equipment.

He argued that farmers must be equipped with modern tools to increase productivity, reduce dependence on physically demanding manual labor, and improve their overall working conditions.

The UDP leader urged voters to use the December 5 presidential election to demand a change in agricultural policy, promising that an alliance government would provide farmers with the resources necessary to cultivate their land more efficiently and profitably.

He maintained that the alliance’s agricultural agenda would seek to restore pride in farming and ensure that those who produce the country’s food receive the economic rewards and recognition they deserve.