Gambia to Hold Fertilizer Price at 1,100 Dalasi as Government Expands $1.6 Billion Subsidy

By Makutu Manneh

The Gambia government will keep fertilizer prices fixed at 1,100 dalasis per bag for the 2026 rainy season, officials said Tuesday, extending a subsidy program valued at 1.6 billion dalasis in an effort to insulate farmers from rising global commodity costs.

The announcement came from Demba Sabally, the minister of agriculture, livestock and food security, who told reporters at a news conference that instability in the Gulf region had disrupted international supply chains, pushing up the price of agricultural inputs worldwide. He framed the decision to hold the line on fertilizer prices as a direct response to those external pressures.

“The government further wishes to inform farmers that subsidized fertilizers will be available for purchase through Seccos and authorized private agents located across the country,” Mr. Sabally said, urging farmers to buy only from approved vendors to avoid counterfeit products and ensure they pay the official price.

The minister said the policy reflects a broader government commitment to bolstering agricultural production, reinforcing food security, and protecting the livelihoods of farmers nationwide.

Officials also reiterated existing restrictions meant to prevent the diversion of subsidized fertilizer: no farmer may purchase more than 25 bags at a time, and the government maintains a ban on transporting fertilizer across national borders. Mr. Sabally called on police, immigration officers, regional governors, district chiefs, farmer unions, and village leaders, known locally as Alikalolu, to report any signs of smuggling.

In what he called a landmark intervention, Mr. Sabally announced that the government had secured 10,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer to be distributed to farmers at no cost, a measure he said was intended to encourage sustainable farming practices, improve soil health and ease farmers’ financial burdens.

“The government recognizes the vital role farmers play in driving national food security, employment creation and economic growth,” he said, adding that the measures were part of a wider strategy to strengthen the agricultural sector and ensure farmers have timely access to essential inputs despite global economic headwinds.

The minister said the government, working with international donors, would also provide additional inputs and services covering about 20,082 hectares of farmland nationwide. The program is expected to reach roughly 1,500 communities across the country’s seven agricultural regions, he said, at a combined cost of about 240 million dalasis shared between the government and its donor partners.

The Gambia’s main farming season runs from June to October, coinciding with the rainy season, and the cultivation of staple crops such as groundnuts, millet and maize depends heavily on the timing and intensity of seasonal rains.