Senegal has obtained $22.5 million in funding from the World Bank and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to launch the pilot phase of its Community Agricultural Cooperatives (CAC) program.
The financing, provided through the African Food Systems Resilience Fund, was announced during the African Food Systems Forum in Diamniadio.
The pilot will focus on deploying modern hydro-agricultural infrastructure in four municipalities—Taïba Niassène, Taïf, Mbayene, and Niakhene—and on testing the model at National Programme for Community Agricultural Estates sites in Sefa, Itato, Keur Momar Sarr, and Ndramé Escale.
The initiative, a flagship program of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, aims to boost food sovereignty by creating integrated 20-hectare farms that combine crop cultivation, livestock, aquaculture, seed and fodder production. Authorities plan to expand the model to 100 rural communities by 2029, which would require mobilizing an additional $505 million.
Launched under the theme “Youth is committed to the systemic transformation of our food systems,” this year’s forum highlights the role of young people in agricultural modernization, with Senegalese officials encouraging youth to seize opportunities to turn ideas into viable projects.
