The Gambia has allocated 900mn GMD (€10.7mn) for crop financing and fertilizer procurement in 2026, after providing 1.1bn GMD (€13.1mn) in 2025, Finance Minister Seedy Keita said in his October 23 budget speech, Foroyaa reported. The government continued to subsidize fertilizer despite rising international prices, he said.
Analysis: The 2026 allocation is 18% below the previous year's spending, by our calculation, though budget allocations and actual disbursements may differ. Reduced financing could leave less money to purchase farmers' groundnuts, while growers are seeking a higher producer price. The government continues to subsidize fertilizer, which President Adama Barrow said on October 14 sold for about 1,100 GMD (€13) per bag. Groundnut buyers, fertilizer importers and rural lenders have a direct interest in how the funds are used. The producer price, normally announced ahead of the December buying season, should help clarify the outlook.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper (Serrekunda), Minister of Finance's 2027 Budget Speech to the National Assembly, October 23, 2026, as reported by Foroyaa (October 23, 2026), 2025 and 2026; The Point newspaper (Banjul), The Point, reporting President Barrow's campaign speech at Manduar, 14 Oct 2026, 2026; Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), CBG, Official Exchange Rates for Valuation Purposes, October 27, 2026 (daily PDF), October 27, 2026