Fonio is an easy crop to grow because it grows well even on poor sandy soils, as well as in areas with low rainfall. The crop can withstand long dry spells during the production season which are becoming a common occurrence in the West African sub-region. In The Gambia, the common name for the crop is “Findi”. It is commonly grown in fields that were previously cultivated with groundnut. Fonio is one of the oldest cereal crops grown in the country; however, its cultivation has drastically declined to the extent that it is currently considered a minor crop in the country. Fonio is a very fast-growing crop and matures earlier than most cereals. Its ability to withstand dry spells and its high nutritive value makes it an ideal climate-smart crop. For this reason, there is renewed momentum in promoting the crop in the country. Despite these renewed efforts in its promotion, there still exists a huge gap in terms of information on improved production practices that could help uplift the existing low yields. Appropriate agronomic practices that can boost fonio productivity are not well documented at national level. To gather information on the input requirements and utilizations, adaptability and productivity of fonio in The Gambia, experiments were conducted in 2018 and 2019 with the aim of generating important production information that could guide efficient production and enhance productivity. Results obtained showed that fonio responded positively to application of fertilizer. Application of 100 kg ha -1 comprising half NPK (15-15-15) and half urea was sufficient to produce financially beneficial yields. Results also indicated that “Findiba”, which is a landrace may not be suitable for cultivation anymore due to its long growth period amidst the short and erratic nature of the rainfall. The Momo and the Momosato varieties which are of shorter durations and high-yielding are more suitable in the existing climatic conditions of the country. Key words: Crop, fonio, fertilizer, variety, production, yield, adaptability, The Gambia

A survey was conducted to assess the quality of groundnut seed produced and stored under ambient environment across various agro-ecologies of The Gambia, with a view to understanding regions with comparative advantage for its production and storage. Seed production activities of 60 seed growers in 26 communities were collected using structured questionnaires, interviews and observations. The Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the communities were geo-referenced to identify the geographical positioning of the production sites. Samples of the groundnut pods were taken from the seed stores, threshed and subjected to seed quality analysis. Descriptive analysis was used to categorize the seed sources, hectarage cultivated, while seed quality data were subjected to analysis of variance of Nested Design. Means of significant factors were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 5% significant level. The study showed that groundnut seed production is better concentrated in regions with optimum and sustainable rainfall that will reduce abiotic stress during seed development like the Lower River Region, West Coast Region and Central River Region. Fleur-11 variety was identified as one of the most promising varieties for groundnut cultivation in The Gambia and Tropical Africa.