An Assessment of the Marketing Challenges Faced by Cashew Farmers in Kombo South District of The Gambia

Abstract

Aims: This study examined the marketing challenges faced by cashew farmers in Kombo South District of The Gambia. The objectives of the study were to ascertain the challenges faced by cashew farmers and to identify ways of mitigating them in the study area.
 Study Design: Descriptive research design.
 Place and Duration of Study: The was conducted in Kombo South District of the Gambia between June and August, 2020.
 Methodology: The study included all male and female farmers within the ages of 18-75 years in the villages that constitute the Kombo South District in the Gambia. A sample of 384 cashew famers was selected from a population of 9318 farmers using Taro Yamane formula.
 Results: The findings of the study revealed that majority of farmers are affected by unstable domestic market prices of raw cashew nuts, lack of market information, poor road networks, large number of middlemen, lack of modern packaging materials, inadequate storage facilities, weak or no cashew farmer organizations, and the presence of pest and diseases.
 Conclusion: The study, therefore recommended that the government and other relevant stakeholders should help in providing timely market information especially with regards to current prices of raw cashew nuts, rehabilitation of road networks and telecommunication systems to allow farmers to verify prices or sell in better markets, provision of modern packaging materials, adequate storage facilities and trainings on formation and management of farmer organizations will be vital for cashew farmers.