Senegal launches livestock financing program for sheep breeders

Senegal is implementing a public-private financing program to transform its sheep farming sector into a driver of employment and food sovereignty. The initiative, supported by the Fonds d’appui à la stabulation (FONSTAB) and Heifer International Sénégal, aims to better structure the livestock industry to meet the high demand surrounding the Tabaski holiday.

In Kaolack, Minister Delegate for Livestock Ousmane Diagne presided over a ceremony to distribute funds and training certificates to 750 breeders belonging to cooperatives and economic interest groups. The program, which involves approximately 575 million FCFA, focuses on sheep reproduction, fattening, pastoral management, and livestock nutrition.

Experts emphasize that for the sector to achieve long-term stability, financing must be paired with professional training and technical follow-up. The goal is to move beyond merely meeting seasonal holiday demands and instead build a professionalized industry that improves producer incomes and strengthens national food security through collaboration between the state, financial institutions, and the private sector.