Agricultural rice-growing project in Casamance

Despite outstanding improvements of the difficult economic and climatic conditions in Senegal, there is still a lot of progress to be made in the agricultural sector. This project was therefore aiming to improve agricultural production through the introduction of new crop varieties. The project aimed to improve cultivation of seeds in Casamance in the southern region of Senegal.

The lowland rice-growing region of Casamance in southern Senegal lacks a reliable water supply and is entirely dependent on rainfall. This predefines its propensity to drought as well as flooding. During the 2015/2016 season, 815 ha of rice of short duration varieties were cultivated. Even after 90 days of ripening, the total production reached 2,500 tonnes, of which 25 tonnes will serve as seed for future seasons. The cultivation of new crop varieties of maize allows them to withstand extreme weather such as droughts and flooding, yielding a total production of 3,200 tonnes on 1,200 ha. Such results have convinced farmers of the value of “smart crops” adapted to the adverse effects of climate change. This not only provided the farmers with a reasonable income but also improved the nutrition of pregnant women and children between the ages of 0 to 5.

This programme was carried out in partnership with and financed by USAID/Naatal Mbay and the Pole Pour le Développement de la Casamance (PPDC). The “Casamance Development Pole” is a World Bank Programme for Senegal intended to enhance the agricultural productivity of youth and female farmers for selected crops as well as the improvement of the transport linkages in isolated rural communities in targeted areas of the Casamance region.

Project Type

Development Project, Agriculture

Project Duration

2015

Status

Completed

Country

Senegal

Region

Casamance

Donor(s)

USAID/Naatal Mbay, Pole Pour le Développement de la Casamance (PPDC)