Young people at the forefront of modernising rice farming in Senegal

"Like many young people, I thought about leaving the country and sailing away on a pirogue... But my father taught me farming and showed me that you can make a living from it. That changed my perspective. I decided to commit to agriculture, aiming to become a great producer - one who starts from nothing and eventually creates jobs for others. The new structure of FEPROBA, which encourages young people to get involved and facilitates access to land, fills me with pride and makes me feel free."

Meet Abdoulaye Diallo, a 33-year-old father and president of the Youth business unit within the Federation of Producers in the Anambé Basin (FEPROBA). He also runs the Federation's urea granulation centre, part of an effort to modernise agricultural practices and empower a new generation of farmers.

A growing market with untapped potential

Did you know that rice is the primary source of food energy in West Africa and crucial for food security in the region? As the population grows, demand for rice has been climbing more than 6% annually - outpacing all other staples¹. In Senegal, local rice production has surged nearly tenfold in the past decade. In 2023 alone, the country's paddy rice production hit 1.1 million tonnes, up from just 120,000 tonnes in 2012, according to Papa Malick Ndao, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock².

Despite the growth opportunities that the rice sector appears to offer, fewer young people are pursuing careers in agriculture. While agriculture still employs the largest share of the workforce, many young people are drawn to cities like Dakar in search of better opportunities. Every year, between 200,000 and 300,000 new young people enter Senegal's job market, while the formal economy can only create about 30,000 new jobs³. In the cities, these young people often end up in precarious jobs or attempt illegal migration to other continents.

Farming in rural areas, meanwhile, is largely left in the hands of the elderly. Young people shy away from agriculture not only because agribusinesses are generally considered a poor career choice but also because of outdated practices and limited access to modern equipment. Young people are attracted by innovation but even when modern techniques are promoted, farmers struggle to implement them effectively because they do not have the necessary equipment. How can these barriers be overcome, and how can we make young people interested in agriculture again?

^{1. AfricaRice}

^{2. https://french.xinhuanet.com/20240427/b61283943daa4ff79ef7c2b2ade48c61/c.html}

^{3. https://www.undp.org/fr/senegal/blog/la-jeunesse-au-senegal-de-la-necessite-dadopter-une-approche-de-transformation-systemique}

Urea granulation: a game-changer for farmers and young entrepreneurs

To reverse rural exodus and foster agricultural entrepreneurship, Senegal's government, with support from partners like Rikolto, is promoting policies to boost youth employment in key value chains such as rice. FEPROBA, one of Rikolto's long-standing partners, has taken bold steps to invest in its young members, believing they are essential for the future of sustainable agriculture.

The collaboration with FEPROBA started more than 10 years ago. Since then, Rikolto has engaged with FEPROBA to disseminate sustainable production techniques among 2,500 farmers but also to strengthen its organisational structure and management. Now a trusted business partner, FEPROBA is investing in a new generation of farmers to drive change and innovation. With support from Rikolto, FEPROBA developed a Urea Granulation Unit, which is "the only processing unit of its kind in Senegal" according to Bassoum Mansour, FEPROBA's coordinator.

In 2023, 20 young people were trained in urea granulation techniques, facility management and the development of a business unit to oversee the production of agricultural inputs. Today, the unit employs 18 young people, including six seasonal workers. It has also fostered strong ties with local cereal growers and market gardeners, who now rely on their two input shops to access high-quality inputs, such as granulated urea, especially during the winter season.

With granulated urea, we've managed to reduce urea use from 250 kilograms per hectare to 113 kilograms per hectare. The combination of granulated urea and the SRP [Sustainable Rice Platform] standard allows us to reduce production costs by an average of 23%

The unit, which produces a branded super-granular urea, has already generated a turnover of more than 69 million CFA francs (about €106,000) in 2024, compared to around 32 million CFA (about €49,000) when it started in 2022. "With granulated urea, we've managed to reduce urea use from 250 kilograms per hectare to 113 kilograms per hectare. The combination of granulated urea and the SRP [Sustainable Rice Platform] standard allows us to reduce production costs by an average of 23%," said Bassoum, adding that FEPROBA plans to increase the unit's production capacity.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.