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Since the establishment of a cold storage in the centre of the market to ensure that the risk of vegetables spoiling is reduced or eliminated, women traders at Sarakunda Market said they are yet to use it or enjoy its benefits.
While the project is critical to the supplier, its use has been interrupted for approximately three years since its installation in 2020.
When the containers were installed, the traders thought a woman involved in the scheme took down their names and phone numbers, but nothing came of it.
The reporter visited the market and learned about the state of storage facilities and difficulties faced by mostly female vendors. With the booming vegetable and fish business, many complained about the inadequate storage facilities in the market. Others expressed disappointment and continued to call for effective and efficient cold storage facilities in the market.
“They haven’t told us anything since the cold storage was installed and we thought the lady who took our name and phone number would get back to us but she didn’t,” said fishmonger Fanta Saidy.
Most of the women felt the same way: although the cold storage occupied the market space, it was of no use to them since its installation.
Mariama Drammeh, a seafood seller at the market, said she faces difficulties in storing her goods, which go bad or rot if they are not sold during the day, and they do not have space or cold storage to preserve their products.
Mansata Tamba, a trader, also pointed out that the woman had never responded to them as she had recorded their names to use the cold storage. “I thought she had gone out so she has not responded to us yet,” she surmised.
However, in an interview with the market’s assistant manager, Baboucarr Jallow, he said the solar cold storage would be beneficial for women traders to store vegetables.
He said they had instituted a policy of paying 10 dalasi per person if they wanted to keep their produce until the next day. Within a week, the women had stopped storing vegetables and using the containers, Jallow said. “Now the containers have been abandoned,” he said.
Mr Jallow also said a lady in charge of the solar container (Aji Fatou Jallow) told them that the container needed more air conditioning to transport fish and other goods, but nothing came of it.
Some of the women interviewed said that the lady who recorded their names (Ajie Fatou Jallow) had signed a memorandum of understanding with KMC for her to take the responsibility of storage, but unfortunately, she was unable to do anything, resulting in the non-functioning of the containers or storage facilities.
In a telephone interview with KMC Director of Services Lamin Sanyang, he said the woman told them that she was about to return the project signed with the council.
He said the woman told them the solar container was not operational due to personal reasons but she was willing to hand the work over to the city council soon.
Serakunda Market is the largest market in Gambia, but traders have complained about the storage facilities.
Serrekunda Market is located in the bustling commercial centre of The Gambia. The market is surrounded by designated buildings such as workshops, trading stalls, restaurants and the “black market” where electronic products are sold and repaired day and night.
The market is located in the centre of town and research shows that it was originally started by a few women who set up regular stalls on the dirt road, selling some fresh vegetables and dried fish. Over time, other local food vendors joined in and it subsequently developed into the busy market centre it is today.
With the storage facility issue unresolved, food in the market continues to rot, which will not only cause heavy losses to vendors but also lead to food shortages in the city center and its surrounding areas.
In a country where the Government is working hard to ensure food self-sufficiency in partnership with the British High Commission and international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the World Food Programme, large quantities of basic food items rotting day after day is tantamount to creating obstacles or hindrances in the efforts of the Government and its development partners.
Meanwhile, Canifin City Council, which has direct control over market affairs, is expected to resolve the issue.
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