In Senegal rice is produced mainly in the flood plains of the rivers Senegal, Saloum, and Casamance. In the 70’s international investment enabled the construction of the Manantali dam turning the Senegal River Valley into a prime land for rice cultivation, however at the expense of the environment as well as the health and wellbeing of the local population. In the Casamance (south Senegal), rice is produced mainly by recessional irrigation along the short-lived flood plains.