Fact-Check: Is a Kilogram of Rice in The Gambia 78 Dalasi?
Malagen verified Prof. Yerro Mballow’s claim that a kilogram of rice costs 78 dalasi and found it false. Market checks show prices range between 50 and 72 dalasi in Kombo and 70 to 125 in Basse.
Claim: A kilogram of rice is at a cost of D78
Source: Prof. Yerro Mballow
Verdict: False
On 11 October 2025, during the Coffee Time program on West Coast Radio, Prof. Yerro Mballow discussed issues including corruption, the cost of living, and crime. At the 14:33 mark of the program, Prof. Mballow claimed that a kilogram of rice costs D78 in The Gambia.
Fact-Check Findings
Malagen Media Monitoring checked prices with local shops in Kombo (urban Gambia) and found the following per kilogram:
- American rice: 50 dalasi per kg
- Saddam rice: 72 dalasi per kg
Note: Most Gambians rarely buy rice by the kilogram. It is commonly measured in cups or purchased as full bags.
To further verify the claim, Malagen contacted shopkeepers in Basse, one of the farthest towns from the capital. They confirmed the following prices:
Saddam rice: 125 dalasi per kg
American rice: 70 dalasi per kg
Even in Basse, rice is seldom sold by the kilogram. The higher prices in rural areas are mainly attributed to transportation costs. Shopkeepers told Malagen that under normal circumstances, a kilogram of American rice would sell for around 50 dalasi, and Saddam rice for about 70 dalasi.
Recent Price Data
Selina Wamucii, an agricultural social enterprise connecting smallholder farmers across Africa (including The Gambia), reports that the average price of rice peaks at 57.47 dalasi per kg.
The Ministry of Trade (2024) indicates standard prices are around 50 dalasi per kg for American rice.
Analysis
The claim that a kilogram of rice costs 78 dalasi does not align with available market data or official sources.
Prices in urban areas are generally lower than 78 dalasi, while rural areas may record slightly higher prices due to transport costs — but these remain within the 50 to 70 dalasi range depending on rice type.
The standard market price, as confirmed by shopkeepers and government data, remains around 50 dalasi for American rice and 70 dalasi for Saddam rice.
There is no evidence to support that any rice variety in The Gambia currently sells for 78 dalasi per kilogram. Therefore, Prof. Mballow’s claim is inaccurate
