Senegal is advancing plans to modernise its agricultural sector as a pathway to economic growth, its delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament has said. Speaking at the 2026 First Ordinary Session in Abuja, Ismaila Wone stated that agriculture contributes 10 to 13 per cent of the country's GDP and remains a primary income source for rural populations. The sector is dominated by cereal crops and the groundnut industry, which is vital for exports and agricultural revenue.
Wone noted that climate change poses a major challenge, with over 90 per cent of cultivated land dependent on rainfall, increasing vulnerability to droughts, floods and land salinisation. He cited ongoing government investments in resilience and infrastructure, including the 2025 National Adaptation Plan, as key to addressing these pressures.
Senegal is implementing more than 214 infrastructure projects worth FCFA 12 000 billion, aimed at boosting multimodal connectivity and structural transformation. The country's economic growth is projected at 5.3 per cent, supported by the "Jubbanti Koom" Economic and Social Recovery Plan, which focuses on fiscal governance, macroeconomic stability and structural reforms.
The delegation highlighted progress in constitutional reforms, justice sector modernisation and the creation of an independent electoral management body. Senegal reaffirmed its adherence to ECOWAS commitments, including payment of community levies, free movement protocols and border modernisation. The country is also advancing gender equality and preparing to host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar.
Senegal pushes modern farming yet over 90% of its farmland still relies on rain, exposing a gap between ambition and ground reality. This contradiction puts rural livelihoods at risk despite billions in infrastructure spending. The focus on macroeconomic recovery and elite-driven reforms may sideline the very farmers the policy aims to help. Without measurable shifts in on-farm climate resilience, the growth narrative rests on fragile ground.
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