Banjul, The Gambia –The Soil Solution is proud to share the remarkable achievements of the SoilProfit Groundnut 1.0 Project, an innovative initiative aimed at improving soil health and increasing groundnut productivity and profitability among smallholder farmers in The Gambia.

Groundnut production remains one of the most important agricultural activities in the country, providing livelihoods for thousands of farming households. However, challenges such as soil degradation, soil acidity, nutrient depletion, climate change, and limited access to quality inputs have continued to affect production and farmer incomes.

Through the SoilProfit Groundnut 1.0 Project, The Soil Solution introduced a soil health-centered intervention that combined agricultural lime application, improved agronomic practices, farmer training, and continuous technical support to address these challenges.
The project achieved outstanding results, demonstrating the transformative potential of investing in soil health:

• Groundnut yields increased by more than 300 percent compared to national average production levels.
• Farmer profitability increased by over 300 percent, significantly improving household incomes.
• Participating farmers recorded a 100 percent adoption rate of agricultural lime application.
• Soil health improved through better soil pH levels and enhanced nutrient availability.
• Farmers gained practical knowledge and skills in improved groundnut production techniques.
• Strong farmer participation and cooperative engagement contributed to successful implementation.

One of the project’s most important findings was the confirmation that soil acidity is a major constraint to groundnut production in The Gambia. The use of agricultural lime proved highly effective in improving soil conditions, leading to better crop growth, higher yields, and increased profitability.

The project has also demonstrated that sustainable soil management can play a critical role in building climate resilience, improving food security, and enhancing the livelihoods of farming communities.
A major achievement of the SoilProfit Groundnut 1.0 Project was the establishment and strengthening of the Cooperative Groundnut Farmers Association (CGFA), a farmer-led organisation supported by The Soil Solution to promote collective action, knowledge sharing, access to agricultural inputs, and improved market opportunities for groundnut producers. The emergence of the CGFA represents an important step toward ensuring the long-term sustainability and scaling of the SoilProfit model across The Gambia.

Speaking on the project’s achievements, Ebrima Jarra, Executive Director of The Soil Solution, stated:
“The results from SoilProfit Groundnut 1.0 clearly demonstrate that improving soil health is one of the most effective investments that can be made in Gambian agriculture. By addressing soil acidity through agricultural lime application and strengthening farmer capacity, we have shown that farmers can significantly increase their productivity, profitability, and resilience. The establishment of the Cooperative Groundnut Farmers Association further ensures that these gains will continue to benefit farming communities well into the future.”

The success of SoilProfit Groundnut 1.0 was made possible through strong collaboration among farmers, government institutions, research organizations, technical partners, and development stakeholders. The Soil Solution extends its appreciation to the relevant government ministries and departments responsible for agriculture and rural development, research institutions supporting soil health and agronomic innovation, technical experts providing advisory services, and community leaders whose commitment contributed to the project’s success.

Building on these achievements, The Soil Solution is currently developing SoilProfit Groundnut 2.0, which aims to expand access to agricultural lime and soil health technologies, strengthen farmer cooperatives, improve access to finance and markets, enhance farmer training and extension services, and reach a larger number of smallholder farmers across the country. The next phase will focus on scaling proven soil health solutions while contributing to national food security, climate resilience, and agricultural transformation.

The Soil Solution remains committed to supporting farmers with innovative, evidence-based solutions that improve soil health, increase productivity, and create lasting economic opportunities for rural communities.

About The Soil Solution:
The Soil Solution is dedicated to promoting healthy soils, sustainable agriculture, and resilient farming systems through research, innovation, capacity building, and strategic partnerships. Through its programmes and partnerships, the organisation works to improve soil health, restore degraded lands, increase agricultural productivity, and strengthen the livelihoods of farming communities across The Gambia.

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Communications Department
The Soil Solution, Email: coms.thesoilsolution@gmail.com or solvesoilgambia@gmail.com
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