Saint-Louis, Senegal – May 24, 2023 – The ‘Climate-smart Agriculture and sustainable value chains in Senegal River Valley’ Project, funded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs of the Republic of Korea, was launched today under the patronage of the Deputy Governor of Saint Louis and in the presence of the Assistant Prefect of Ndiaye, the Director of the Korea Program on International Agriculture (KOPIA) Senegal Center, representing His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Senegal, the Director General of the Society for the Development of Delta of Senegal Lands (SAED), and the Country Representative of GGGI.
The event brought together nearly 40 participants and representatives of the Africa Rice, Better World, la banque Agricole, Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles (ISRA), Société d’importation de Produits Alimentaires (S.I.P.A), Direction Régionale de Développement Rural (DRDR), Centre de Gestion et d’Economie Rurale (CGER), Centre Interprofessionnel pour la Formation aux métiers de l’Agriculture (CIFA), Head of Planning Region, Head of the regional Trade Office, as well as, representatives of farmers’ groups and farmers from project target areas.
In his opening remarks, the Deputy Governor of Saint-Louis stressed the importance of Climate-Smart Agriculture (CSA) in the midst of extreme weather events, and the need to safeguard ecosystems and communities. He expressed his appreciation to the Government of Senegal, the Republic of Korea, and GGGI for their unwavering commitment to collaborating on projects that drive economic progress through inclusive and sustainable growth. Additionally, he emphasized the crucial role of engaging communities and beneficiaries throughout the implementation process, with the involvement of all relevant stakeholders. The Director of KOPIA in Senegal, representing His Excellency the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Senegal, emphasized the importance of green growth for sustainable human development and commended GGGI’s Climate-Smart Agriculture project for addressing food security while protecting the environment., The Director also highlighted Korea’s success in achieving self-sufficiency in rice production and the launch of the Republic of Korea’s K-Rice Belt initiative, aiming to improve food security in multiple countries, including Senegal. He said: “Saint-Louis is the birthplace of this initiative and expressed confidence in GGGI’s role in its implementation. 
Ms. Assana Magagi-Alio, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) Country Representative in Senegal, expressed gratitude to the governments of Senegal and the Republic of Korea for their support and GGGI Senegal will ensure implementing partners and beneficiaries, including NGOs, farmers’ unions, research institutions, and the Government officers will be involved in the project actively. The County Representative highlighted that the project aligns with the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), which plans to develop the potential of agriculture to promote the country’s economic growth by 2035. And GGGI and the project team are committed to supporting the Government of Senegal and its partners for its success.
After the opening ceremony, the project team provided an overview of the Project, followed by a Questions & Answers session and the closing ceremony.
Through this collaborative effort, GGGI and its partners aim to drive transformative change in Senegal’s agricultural landscape, promoting climate resilience, economic growth, and food security.
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GGGI, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment of Senegal and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) of the Republic of Korea, is implementing a groundbreaking climate-smart agriculture and sustainable value chains Project in the Senegal River Delta. The program is a 39-month initiative aims to iimprove food self-sufficiency and security in Senegal with three key outcomes. Firstly, it will pilot climate-smart agriculture practices in over 800 hectares of land, benefiting up to 1000 farmers who will receive training on these innovative farming techniques. Secondly, the project will establish a Farmers’ Hub and mobilize USD 15 million to develop innovative financial services and instruments. This will enhance access to finance for farmers, enabling them to adopt sustainable agricultural practices. Lastly, the program will create green employment opportunities for women and youth, supporting the establishment of 20 Agri-preneurs and at least 5 start-ups in the agricultural sector.
This initiative aligns with the Agricultural Program for Sustainable Food Sovereignty (PASAD), 2021 to 2025. Rice, horticulture, and dry cereals will be the epicenter of the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE) program.
Local GGGI communications contact
Assana Magagi-Alio, Country Representative, Senegal assana.alio@GGGI.org