Introduction:
Due to its favourable climate, rich soils and large areas of arable
land, a wide variety of food crops are grown in The Gambia. However,
due to inadequate storage and handling facilities and limited added
value and processing plants, large quantities of produce are wasted
each year.
 For example post harvest fish losses are high, estimated at
20-30%.
Traditional processing of fish in The Gambia is an important
means of making fish available to consumers, especially those
living in rural areas. The market for cured / smoked fish is expanding,
although inadequate market information and low level of
organisation among producers and traders limit the efficiency of
the trade.
With a growing urban population and a large tourism industry,
The Gambia currently imports large quantities of processed food
and drink products, which could be supplied using processed
local materials. Regional markets in neighbouring countries are
also a potential market and are already being supplied by a
number of food and drink processing companies based in The
Gambia.
There are a number of firms already involved in giving added-value to food
and drinks namely: GAMBEGA (bottling plant), Gamwater, King Kombo
(distillery), ComAfrique (nuts), Lyncoln Solutions (machinery),
Pelican Seafood and others.
See also Suppliers
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Investment Opportunities:
 Processing and packaging of out of season and
exotic fruit and
vegetables for the Western European market.
Freezing, canning and drying of fruit and vegetables for the
export market.
Processing and packaging fruit and vegetables for the urban
population of The Gambia.
Supply of fruit and vegetables
for the hotel and restaurant trade in The Gambia.
Processing and packaging of high quality
nuts and dried fruit
for the tourist and export markets.
Processing and
packaging of fruit juices for the domestic and export markets.
Production of soft drinks for the domestic and regional markets.
In the food sector price inflation increased from 0.25 per cent in
December 2006 to 9.46 per cent in December 2007.
Source:-
prices: (MPC 2008)
Picture credits:
Fish
Fruits
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