Impactcluster Horti Senegal

Adapted from the project website

About the cluster

There is a potential to increase local vegetable production in the Niayes region in Senegal and to increase farmers’ profitability, but smallholder farmers lack high-quality inputs and entrepreneurial skills and their agricultural practices are suboptimal, like using old seeds and using chemical fertilizers. Due to inefficient operation and predominantly traditional irrigation technology, 50-80% of the water that is pumped to the field is lost.

Farming techniques such as heavy fertilizer use, unwise irrigation and leaving land fallow in the hot summer months contribute to soil degradation and salinization. This poses a significant threat to sustained productivity and climate resilience. The country has a relatively young population, with over 80% under the age of 35. Very few young job seekers have the required skills to be employed and they are not aware that farming could be an interesting business.

This Impactcluster HortiSenegal project aims to improve the vegetable production of save and tasty vegetables for the Senegalese market by increasing the competences of young smallholder farmers in the Niayes region (Kirene and St. Louis) and reducing environmental impact. This is done through the upgrade of a Demonstration and Training Centre including greenhouse demonstrations, train-the-trainer programme for 30 lead farmers who will train 3,000 smallholder farmers together with the consortium partners at their demo plots. At the same time, the project is promoting farming as a business among the youth of Senegal, through communication and attendance at demo days.

The instalment and demonstration of drip irrigation and training using farming methods under saline conditions are part of the solutions for soil restoration offered by this Impactcluster project. Smallholders will be assisted in getting access to finance, markets and storage solutions. When smallholders will see their profits grow, they will more likely purchase inputs, technologies and services from the consortium partners.

PSD Toolkit - Phase 2

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