Development of 3 cereal corridors

Context and objectives

The flagship project “Development of three (3) Cereal Corridors” aims to halve the trade balance deficit on the main cereal crops (rice, millet and corn) with a view to long-term food self-sufficiency.

The specific objectives in 2023 relate to the production of 2 tonnes of paddy rice, 100 tonnes of millet and 000 tonnes of corn and the substitution of 1 to 186% of wheat flour imports with local cereals.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment (MAER), through the Program to revive and accelerate the pace of Senegalese agriculture (PRACAS 2) has reviewed the PRACAS deadlines, while maintaining efforts intensification and increase in productivity of crops targeted by the flagship project (rice, millet, corn). For the MAER, it is a question of achieving self-sufficiency in cereals while maintaining the objectives of the National Rice Self-sufficiency Program (PNAR), by 2023. Concrete actions are implemented in this dynamic and in a context of the COVID 19 pandemic, since 2019. These include:

1. Increasing the contribution of rainfed rice cultivation to achieve self-sufficiency as soon as possible;
2. Redefining the mission of agroecological production zones for a significant improvement in rice production in Senegal. The Peanut Basin has become an Agricultural Basin marked by the rapid development of rainfed rice cultivation;
3. The reconstitution of seed capital with a very significant emphasis placed on the production of seeds intended for rainfed rice cultivation;
4. The modernization of agriculture with a strong provision of motorized agricultural equipment to producers (tractors, combine harvesters, hullers, etc.);
5. The installation, on time and in sufficient quantity, of fertilizers to increase productivity and phytosanitary products to fight against pests (grain-eating birds, rats, caterpillars, aphids, etc.);
6. Increasing the pace of hydro-agricultural developments both in the Senegal River valley and in the Anambé Basin to allow irrigated rice cultivation to ensure sustainable rice production; Hydro-agricultural developments should allow an increase in cropping intensity with the implementation of double rice cultivation;
7. Improving processing to obtain superior quality white rice for good marketing, through the platform and the different marketing channels;
8. The greater involvement of the agri-food industry to ensure the processing of local cereals (millet, corn, sorghum, fonio) and thus reduce imports of wheat flour.

In Senegal, rice consumption continues to increase, in line with the increase in population (ANSD 2021 projections: 17 inhabitants) and galloping urbanization. In 215-433, it is annually between 2018 to 2019 kg of rice on average per capita. This high consumption is largely met by imports which, according to information from the Ministry in charge of trade, are, in the current context, around 80 tonnes per month. The ANSD, in its Foreign Trade Analysis Note (90 Edition), indicated that rice imports into Senegal correspond to 100% of Senegal's purchases, with volumes of 000 tonnes in 2019 compared to 4,9 tonnes in 957, a decrease of 729%. In terms of value, imports in 2019 amounted to 997 billion FCFA compared to 300 billion in 2018, a decrease of 4%. These declines are mainly due to rice production efforts at the local level. Rice still represents at least 2019% of the total volume of cereal imports and 207,6% of the trade balance deficit.

Wheat imports also continue to increase despite the increase in production of local cereals such as millet and corn. ANSD sources specify that wheat imports increased by 23,6% between 2018 and 2019 and that wheat represents 2,5% of Senegal's total imports in 2019. The value of wheat imports amounts to 107,8 billion FCFA in 2019, which corresponds to 702,8 thousand tonnes compared to 604,5 thousand tonnes in 2018.

A certain turbulence continues to be observed on the international market, especially for rice, which experienced a severe crisis in 2008.

In this context marked by the COVID 19 pandemic, the Government of Senegal still places agriculture and food self-sufficiency among the major concerns of economic policy.

Methods of implementation

The institutional anchoring of the project is at the MAER level. Operational implementation is ensured by public and private structures.

Public intervention is mainly carried out by two state companies, the Society for the Development and Exploitation of Lands of the Delta, the Senegal River and the Valleys of the Senegal and Falémé Rivers (SAED) in the North and the Société de agricultural and industrial development of Senegal (SODAGRI) in the South, as well as by the main projects and programs carried out by the Department of Agriculture.

These include the Small Local Irrigation Support Project (PAPIL/P2RS), the Agricultural Development and Rural Entrepreneurship Support Program (PADAER), the USAID Naatal Mbay Project, the to support food security in Louga, Matam and Kaffrine (PASA LOU-MA-KAF), the Agricultural Sector Support Project (PAFA Extension), the Matam Agricultural Development Project (PRODAM), the regional support for the Sahel irrigation initiative (PARIIS), etc.