The Kolda Zootechnical Research Center (CRZ) is on alert in the face of a series of attacks on its land assets. This Saturday, January 18, during a press briefing organized in the presence of the Director General of the Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA), the Director of the CRZ, Dr. Mamadou Ousseynou Ly, denounced “illegal occupations” seriously affecting the projects of the institution.
2000 plots allocated illegally
Dr Ly revealed that 2000 plots were allocated on the CRZ land title (n°TF346/HC) by deliberation of the Dioulacolon town hall. He called these acts illegal, insisting that the CRZ was never associated with these decisions. He also pointed out a final case of occupation by the town hall of Kolda, which began the construction of a municipal stadium on a site belonging to the CRZ, without prior declassification or consultation of the institution.
“Very threatened” land heritage
“The land heritage of the CRZ of Kolda is today very threatened,” warned Dr Ly, adding that these practices compromise national ambitions in terms of food security. Indeed, the CRZ plays a crucial role in the implementation of an ambitious program to reconstitute seed capital and develop animal genetic resources. With 250 head of cows requiring pasture, the center also contributes to the development of fruit growing and agroforestry, all activities which require secure access to land.
A call for dialogue
-Faced with this worrying situation, Dr Ly reiterated the CRZ’s desire to maintain dialogue and consultation with local authorities and the stakeholders concerned. He insisted on the urgency of finding solutions to preserve the land resources necessary for carrying out the institution’s research and development programs.
The Kolda CRZ alert highlights the importance of rigorous and transparent management of public land assets, particularly in a context where the challenges linked to food security and agricultural development are becoming increasingly pressing.
Senegal
