General information
The Gambia, the smallest African country, is located in the Western coast of Africa extending into Senegal. It is bordered to the west by the Atlantic ocean and by Senegal on all other sides. It has a total area of 11,300 sq km, and at no point it is wider than 50 km. The terrain is mostly flood plains of the Gambia river flanked by some low hills. The climate is mostly hot tropical. The rainy season lasts from June to November, and the cooler dry season lasts from November to May.
The Gambia has an estimated population of 1.5 million (July 2003) with an annual growth rate of 3.03 %. Major ethnic groups are Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahuli. Out of total 10,000 sq km land area 19.5 % is arable land. The economy of the country is largely based on crop and livestock production. Agriculture accounts for 33 % of GDP and employs 75 % of labor force. Major industries are processing peanuts, fish, and hides.
Importance of groundnut
Groundnut is an important crop in Gambia as it accounts for 87 % of the Gambia earnings and occupies about 59 % of the total cultivated land ( Drammeh 1990). It is an important part of diet in the Gambia. It is also consumed as condiment and confectionary. The groundnut haulms are used as feed. Groundnut production has declined in 1990s but again it has started increasing in 2000s.
Groundnut Environment
Although groundnut is grown in all parts of the country, the North Bank and the Upper River divisions are the major producers. Most of the crop is grown on the colluvial slope soils ( Drammeh 1988). The crop is grown in rainy season. Usually, the flowering period falls in the wettest month August. It is grown as an intercrop and in rotation with sorghum, millet, maize, and cotton. For many years Philippine pink (an early maturing cultivar) and Senegal 28-206 (a late maturing cultivar) have been the most popular cultivars in Gambia. However, these varieties are being replaced with other varieties.
Production constraints
The major constraints include inadequate rainfall, pests and diseases, and poor soils. Drought during early and late phase of crop growth, a common phenomenon, greatly affects the crop yield. The major diseases are crown rot, leaf spots, rosette, and the major insect pest is millipedes, and bruchids. Aspergillus mold is also a common problem. The major socioeconomic factors limiting production are inefficient and poor input, credit supply, and institutional support.
Production trend
Groundnut production trend in terms of harvest area, yield, and total production are given in the following table and chart.
Groundnut (shell) production trend in Gambia
Year |
Harvested Area
(Ha) |
Yield
(Kg/Ha) |
Production
(Mt) |
1961 |
90,000 |
1,167 |
105,000 |
1962 |
90,000 |
1,167 |
105,000 |
1963 |
100,000 |
1,100 |
110,000 |
1964 |
100,000 |
1,120 |
112,000 |
1965 |
100,000 |
1,280 |
128,000 |
1966 |
100,000 |
1,420 |
142,000 |
1967 |
88,000 |
1,483 |
130,500 |
1968 |
88,000 |
1,546 |
136,000 |
1969 |
85,000 |
1,471 |
125,000 |
1970 |
87,000 |
1,437 |
125,000 |
1971 |
95,000 |
1,432 |
136,000 |
1972 |
85,000 |
1,388 |
118,000 |
1973 |
104,817 |
1,445 |
151,500 |
1974 |
104,000 |
1,396 |
145,200 |
1975 |
98,000 |
1,440 |
141,100 |
1976 |
105,000 |
1,362 |
143,000 |
1977 |
102,000 |
980 |
100,000 |
1978 |
106,000 |
1,259 |
133,400 |
1979 |
67,800 |
987 |
66,900 |
1980 |
68,900 |
874 |
60,200 |
1981 |
80,700 |
1,349 |
108,900 |
1982 |
95,000 |
1,594 |
151,400 |
1983 |
97,200 |
1,171 |
113,800 |
1984 |
91,400 |
1,150 |
105,100 |
1985 |
58,500 |
1,296 |
75,800 |
1986 |
80,400 |
1,373 |
110,350 |
1987 |
95,010 |
1,263 |
119,950 |
1988 |
94,760 |
1,038 |
98,360 |
1989 |
86,067 |
1,509 |
129,899 |
1990 |
89,480 |
833 |
74,530 |
1991 |
79,850 |
1,054 |
84,160 |
1992 |
64,595 |
849 |
54,869 |
1993 |
63,187 |
1,214 |
76,724 |
1994 |
75,081 |
1,076 |
80,804 |
1995 |
78,086 |
963 |
75,178 |
1996 |
64,413 |
711 |
45,822 |
1997 |
70,458 |
1,109 |
78,101 |
1998 |
70,480 |
1,042 |
73,457 |
1999 |
99,128 |
1,240 |
122,958 |
2000 |
118,100 |
1,169 |
138,000 |
2001 |
131,000 |
1,153 |
151,069 |
2002 |
90,000 |
795 |
71,526 |
2003 |
95,000 |
790 |
75,000 |
Source : FAO
References
Drammeh , S.
1988 Groundnut Improvement, Production, Management and Utilization in the Gambia. The first ICRISAT regional groundnut meeting for West Africa, Niamey, Niger, 1988, pp. 41-44. ICRISAT.
—
1990 Grain Legumes and Oilseeds Program in the Gambia. The second ICRISAT regional groundnut meeting for West Africa, Niamey, Niger, 1990, pp. 12-13. ICRISAT.
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