Over 50 farmers will convene on Saturday, May 16, at Farato Farms for the second edition of the Farmers Market organized by Farmers Pharmacy – The Gambia, an initiative aimed at connecting farmers directly with consumers while promoting local food production and agribusiness development.
The two-day market comes on the heels of what organizers described as a highly successful first edition held in April, which attracted strong participation from farmers, consumers, and agribusiness stakeholders across the country.
Speaking ahead of the official opening ceremony, the Chairman of Farmers Pharmacy – The Gambia, Abdourahim Cole described the market as more than just a trading platform.
“This is more than just a market day. It is a celebration of the hard work, resilience, and dedication of Gambian farmers who continue to feed our families and contribute to national development despite many challenges,” the chairman said.
He noted that agriculture remains one of the country’s most important sectors, but many farmers still face challenges in accessing reliable markets and fair prices for their produce.
“The Farmers Market initiative was created to help bridge this gap by connecting farmers directly with consumers,” he stated.
According to the chairman, the initiative also seeks to strengthen agricultural value chains, encourage agribusiness development, and create economic opportunities for women and young people.
“We strongly believe that agriculture should not only be viewed as a livelihood, but also as a business and a pathway to economic empowerment and national development,” he added.
The chairman further called on Gambians to support local farmers by buying locally produced goods, especially ahead of Tobaski when demand for food products increases.
During the market, consumers are expected to access a wide range of locally produced items, including vegetables, fruits, seedlings, fertilizers, pesticides, poultry products, and other agricultural commodities directly from farmers without middlemen.
Secretary General of Farmers Pharmacy – The Gambia, Sang Mendy, said the second edition was organized in response to growing public demand following the success of the first market.
“The response from both farmers and consumers after the first edition was very encouraging. Many people requested another market before Tobaski, and that motivated us to organize this second edition on a bigger scale,” Mendy said.
He added that the organization remains committed to creating sustainable market opportunities for Gambian farmers across the country.
Among the farmers expected to participate is Lamin Njie, who will be attending the market for the first time. Njie expressed optimism about the opportunities the event presents.
“I heard a lot of positive stories from farmers who participated in the first edition. Many of them told me they sold most of their products within a short time, so I am coming with high expectations and hoping for good sales this weekend,” Njie said.
Returning farmer Tairu Colley also expressed excitement about participating again after what he described as a successful experience during the first edition.
“The first Farmers Market was very beneficial for us as farmers because we were able to meet customers directly and sell our products without difficulties. This time, I am returning with even more seedlings because many customers requested them during the last market,” Colley said.
Organizers say the Farmers Market is expected to attract farmers, agribusiness entrepreneurs, development partners, food vendors, and members of the public from across the country.
The official opening ceremony will take place on Saturday at 10:30 AM at Farato Farms.
