"The food security of Senegal is at stake," warned Boubacar Sall, a prominent figure in the country's onion industry, highlighting the severe impact of recent flooding in the Podor region, which contributes 46% to the national onion production. The flooding, caused by climate change-induced heavy rainfall, has devastated vast agricultural areas since October 12, affecting hundreds of thousands of farmers during the crucial cultivation and sowing period.
According to the Institute for Research and Development, the rainfall exceeded normal seasonal levels by 30%, exacerbating the situation in the Senegal River valley, a key agricultural zone. The national company for the development and exploitation of land in the Senegal River delta (SAED) reports that over 200,000 individuals in Podor and nearly 250,000 people across three departments are facing increased food security risks due to the ongoing flooding.
More than 16,000 hectares of agricultural land have been submerged, impacting not only onion cultivation but also essential crops such as okra, bitter eggplant, bananas, corn, millet, tomatoes, and rice. The latter, a staple yet predominantly imported foodstuff, has seen severe damage, leading to an unprecedented agricultural crisis.
In the aftermath of the floods, farmers in areas like Ballou are experiencing severe losses, with hundreds of rice farmers unable to salvage their crops. The financial toll, though seemingly modest at 197 million CFA francs (€301,800), signifies a dire shift towards extreme poverty for thousands of households, compounded by environmental contamination and health risks from drowned fertilizer storage.
The lack of official response and the absence of agricultural ministerial visits to the affected regions have raised concerns among the rural and farming communities, questioning the government's commitment to food sovereignty and highlighting the need for significant climate adaptation strategies and investments.
Source: Le Monde