Senegal: Context
Family farms facing agro-business. Over the last few years, industry and tourism have become major topics in Senegal, despite the fact that agriculture still is the most important sector of Senegal’s economy. More than 70 % of the population generate their revenues in agriculture. Nevertheless poverty is progressing, in rural as well as urban areas.
Senegalese farmers enjoy less and less assistance: they do not take advantage of the majority of financial support actions from development aid or the state. Indeed, as a consequence of structural adjustments imposed by the IMF and the World Bank, the state’s presence in village life is practically inexistent today. Moreover the consequences of globalization have growing effects as agro-business keeps developing. In such a context, Senegalese family farms are no longer part of development schemes, although they are the basic form of life of rural populations.
SOS Faim is encouraging a kind of rural development designed and implemented by the farmers themselves. Through our support we strive to improve living conditions of farmers and their access to essential services in rural areas. SOS Faim keeps listening to farmers and observes the implementation of their projects. On top of our support to concrete local initiatives, we promote the creation of an economic framework allowing populations, local associations, the state and its departments, the private sector and development partners to make a better use of their habilities. Our goal is a durable and autonomous development.
