Figure; Poor rainfall, desertification and climatic shocks are threatening the livelihoods of smallholders in Senegal. Innovative solutions for a better environment are being developed through an ‘Integrated Resilience Garden’ in Oudalaye, Matam. ©Denise Tremblay / CECI Senegal.

FAO News -  30/08/2023

On 25 January 2023, I visited Pandiénou, a village in the Thiès region of western Senegal, together with Québec's Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, Martine Biron. During this visit to a Farmer Field School (FFS), we met local women and youth who face the impacts of climate change on a daily basis. I listened to their stories and learned about the benefits of hands-on group learning. Pandiénou is more than a village; it encapsulates both the challenges facing smallholder farmers across Senegal and the solutions to tackle the climate crisis that exist within communities. I witnessed firsthand how the FAO Strengthening Agricultural Adaptation (SAGA) project fosters community engagement, resilient agriculture, and sustainable development.

Agriculture is the backbone of rural communities in Senegal. Agricultural sectors employ over 27 percent of the working population, but this lifeline is under threat. Pandiénou, much like its neighboring villages, stands as a testament to the deep relationship between people and the environment. The rhythm of life here is marked by the cultivation of millet, peanuts, and sorghum. Yet, shifts in weather patterns, characterized by increasingly variable rainfall, soaring temperatures, and encroaching desertification, have put increasing pressure on the livelihoods and incomes of small-scale food producers. With the climate crisis casting a shadow over the future of food security in these areas, the need to empower small-scale food producers to adapt has become a pressing reality.

See https://www.fao.org/news/countries-good-practices/article/en/c/1649492/