Senegal expands rainfed rice cultivation in Saloum region

In the Saloum region of Senegal, specifically within the Kaolack area, rainfed rice cultivation is expanding, signaling a shift in the traditional agricultural landscape of the peanut basin. Historically dominated by peanut and millet monocultures, the region is diversifying to include rice that relies on seasonal rainfall rather than irrigation.

This transition is supported by the Rainfed Rice Seed Production Support Project, an initiative led by the Direction de l’agriculture and funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project aims to enhance food and seed sovereignty by providing farmers with certified, locally adapted seed varieties in a timely manner, reducing the reliance on imports and traditional supply chains.

While the emergence of rainfed rice offers hope for national food self-sufficiency and a departure from colonial-era cash crop models, challenges remain. Producers still face technical constraints, the need for further support, and unpredictable climatic conditions that could impact the success of this agricultural diversification.