The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, meeting on December 2, 2024 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, approved a loan of 55.33 million euros for the implementation of the second phase of the Water Valorization Project for the Development of Value Chains (PROVAL CV) in Senegal. This ambitious project aims to sustainably increase agricultural production, employment opportunities and income in nine regions of the country, through optimized management of water resources, whether surface or underground.
Objectives of the second phase of the project
The first phase of the project, which has already produced convincing results and is widely welcomed by the beneficiaries, made it possible to identify challenges linked to the consolidation of achievements. It is now essential to strengthen actions to support agripreneurs, particularly young people and women, in order to ensure optimal valuation of the investments made. It is this dynamic which justifies the launch of the second phase, intended to extend the benefits to other regions of the country.
Mohamed Chérif, head of the ADB country office in Senegal, underlined that “the satisfactory results obtained by the first phase have brought out new challenges linked to the consolidation of the project’s achievements. We must also support young people and women in optimizing investments and extend these opportunities to other regions of Senegal. »
Key project components
The second phase of the project plans several concrete actions, in particular the development of 9,000 hectares of agricultural land, including 1,950 hectares of salty land and 450 hectares dedicated to collective market gardening areas. In addition, 15 existing irrigated areas will be rehabilitated and strengthened, and 10 pastoral water points will be installed, powered by solar panels. A 20-kilometer network for the supply of drinking water around these pastoral water points will also be set up.
The project also provides infrastructure to facilitate the marketing of agricultural products, including the rehabilitation of 100 kilometers of production tracks and the construction of 20 storage warehouses of 100 tonnes each. Four grouping centers equipped with cold rooms, with a capacity varying from 300 to 500 tonnes, will also be built.
Promoting youth employment and entrepreneurship
To promote employment and entrepreneurship, PROVALE CV-2 (second phase of the Water Development Project for the Development of Value Chains) provides for the creation of 1,250 farms, representing a total area of 2,000 hectares. The project also includes the construction and equipment of 40 agricultural mechanization centers, 50 multifunctional platforms, and 50 processing units using solar energy.
Furthermore, support will be provided for the establishment of 180 production units in the livestock sector, as well as 60 aquaculture farms. These initiatives aim to strengthen local production capacities and provide new work and income opportunities for rural communities.
Impact on the 9 targeted regions
The second phase of the project concerns nine administrative regions: Louga, Thiès, Kaolack, Fatick, Kaffrine, Diourbel, Ziguinchor, Sédhiou and Kolda. The Louga region, identified as vulnerable in agro-climatic and socio-economic terms, will benefit from particular support, thus joining the eight other regions covered by the first phase.
Nearly 57,000 households, or approximately 570,000 people, will directly benefit from this project, thus contributing to the fight against poverty and the resilience of communities in the face of climatic and economic challenges. With this financing of 55.33 million euros, the African Development Bank marks a new turning point in its support for Senegalese agriculture. The water development project for the development of value chains is part of an inclusive and sustainable growth strategy, with emphasis on the transformation of agricultural value chains and the promotion of entrepreneurship.
Moctar FICUU / VivAfrik
