Dr. Jalamang Camara, Director of Cropping Systems and Agroforestry at the National Research Institute (NAR), has recommended treating organic fertilizer as a regulated agricultural input and a strategic national resource.
He made the recommendation on Wednesday, 23rd September 2026, during his presentation at a parliamentary session on the legislative bill for the promotion and regularization of organic fertilizer. The session was organized by CISS, SOS Children’s Village, and the EU.
Presenting on the topic “Organic and Inorganic Fertilizers: Comparative Analysis and Implications for The Gambia. Supporting a Parliamentary Session on a National Organic Fertilizer Bill”, Dr. Camara emphasized the vital role of agriculture in the Gambian economy, noting that it contributes 25% of GDP and employs nearly 70% of the labor force.
Despite this importance, he highlighted persistent challenges: declining soil fertility, low-input farming systems, small-scale rain-fed agriculture vulnerable to climate variability, low soil organic matter, and nutrient deficiencies.
He described Gambian soils as highly weathered Continental Terminal soils with low inherent fertility, very low organic carbon (0.3–0.4%), weak nutrient supply, poor structure, low cation exchange capacity (1.5–5.5 meq%) due to kaolinitic clays, poor nutrient retention, and severe phosphorus deficiency (3–6 ppm)—a major yield-limiting factor.
Dr. Camara stressed that fertilizer policy is simultaneously a crop productivity, soil fertility, food security, environmental, and farmer-income issue. He cautioned that evidence does not support a blanket replacement of mineral fertilizer with organic fertilizer, as both perform different but complementary functions.
“A national Bill can focus on quality, safety, certification, research, market development, and incentives. The core policy principle should be: use the right nutrient source, in the right amount, at the right time and place,” he told parliamentarians.
On crop production, he explained that organic fertilizer provides gradual nutrient release, adds organic carbon, improves soil environment, and enhances water-use efficiency. He emphasized integrated soil fertility management, which combines organic inputs, appropriate mineral fertilizer, improved seed, good agronomy, soil testing, and water management.
He referenced global and local evidence: “A 2024 global meta-analysis found that partial organic substitution can improve productivity, while complete substitution can reduce yields in some circumstances. Gambian evidence: A 2025 NARI study using poultry droppings and groundnut shells improved tomato performance and selected soil fertility indicators.”
On farmer income and rural development, he noted that organic fertilizer can reduce cash expenditure where local materials are available. However, its bulky nature, transport challenges, high labor requirements, and moisture content can affect economic viability.
He recommended farmer-income policy measures such as:
- Subsidies based on quality and nutrient content, not tonnage alone.
- Decentralized community, cooperative, and private-sector production facilities.
- Financing for composting, processing, screening, packaging, and transport equipment.
- Farmer training to compare products by nutrient value and economic return.
- Expanded soil testing to target fertilizer spending to actual nutrient deficiencies.
Key Parliamentary Message:
Dr. Camara emphasized that the strongest evidence-based case for an Organic Fertilizer Bill is not to replace inorganic fertilizer, but to create a diversified and regulated fertilizer system. Locally produced organic fertilizers should complement mineral fertilizers to improve immediate crop nutrition while rebuilding soil resources for future production.
Key Recommended Policy Directions:
- Treat organic fertilizer as a regulated agricultural input and strategic national resource.
- Avoid blanket replacement of mineral fertilizer.
- Establish science-based quality and safety standards before large-scale market expansion.
- Invest in Gambian research and field trials for crop- and soil-specific recommendations.
- Develop decentralized organic fertilizer production and market infrastructure.
- Link incentives to certified quality, nutrient value, farmer access, and measurable outcomes.
He concluded that evidence supports a national organic fertilizer framework that is science-based, quality-controlled, and farmer-centered. Organic fertilizer offers opportunities for soil restoration, nutrient recycling, and rural enterprise development, while mineral fertilizer remains essential for rapid and precise nutrient supply.
“A successful Bill should connect productivity, soil health, environmental protection, public health, and farmer prosperity,” he said.
