Senegal, Belgium sign US$6.9M grant agreement to boost food crop production
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the three-year project will be implemented in the Peanut Basin, which occupies 57% of Senegal’s arable land.
SENEGAL – The National Fund for Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Development (FNDASP) and the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) have signed a €6.4 million (US$6.9 million) grant agreement to enhance food crop production in Senegal.
This funding, provided by the European Union, is part of the country’s broader strategy to strengthen food sovereignty and increase agricultural yields.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock (MASAE), under the leadership of Dr. Alpha BA, Secretary of State for Cooperatives and Farmer Supervision, hosted the official signing of a subsidy agreement ON March 27.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the three-year project will be implemented in the Peanut Basin, which occupies 57% of Senegal’s arable land.
Specifically, it will focus on the regions of Fatick, Kaolack, Kaffrine, and Tambacounda, benefiting 48,000 small farmers through 35 umbrella cooperatives and 750 grassroots cooperatives. The initiative targets key staple crops, including rice, sorghum, millet, maize, and cowpea.
Enabel’s country director, Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri, outlined the core components of the project, which include the production of certified seeds, improving access to agricultural financing, and leveraging meteorological information in collaboration with the National Agency for Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM).
“This is a project that aims to strengthen producers, boost production, and improve agricultural yields, thereby contributing to food security. The idea is also to connect producers and processors, recycle organic waste, and employ women working in the agricultural sector,” stated Fassi-Fihri.
According to him, these efforts aim to optimize yields and improve resilience to climate variability.
In addition to increasing crop production, the project aims to establish stronger connections between producers and food processors, promote organic waste recycling, and create employment opportunities for women in agriculture.
The targeted regions are crucial to Senegal’s agricultural sector, contributing 1.54 million tonnes of cereals in the 2023/2024 season, representing 38% of the country’s total cereal output of 4 million tonnes, according to data from the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD).
Overall, the country has been making strides to boost local production and shield itself from a huge import burden.
For the 2023/24 agricultural season, the country reported a significant increase in cereal production, with output exceeding 4 million tonnes, a 9.5% rise from the previous year’s 3.6 million tonnes.
According to the National Agency for Statistics and Demography (ANSD), this growth is attributed to expanded cultivation areas and favorable weather conditions.
The expansion in production is largely due to a 3.7% increase in cultivated land, reaching nearly 2 million hectares, an addition of 70,226 hectares compared to the previous year. This development has positively impacted consumer prices, with a 2.2% decrease in the cereal consumer price index in Dakar over the first ten months of 2024.
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