Teaching farming and creating goodwill in Senegal

Anywhere in the world, a large farm is not a simple place.

Good farmers must master the operation of huge machines like tractors and harvesters, complex systems like drip-irrigation and the use of pesticides and fertilizers. They must understand soil management, labor management and the markets for their crops.

It’s difficult enough in the Central Valley of California. It’s tougher in Senegal.

I went to Senegal as part of the Farmer2Farmer program set up by the United States Agency of International Development – or USAID. The program sends consultants to developing countries for short-term consulting projects.

Overseeing programs across the world is the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure projects such as roads, public water systems, schools and hospitals in Africa, South and Central America and Asia. Without any doubt, these programs lend stability to countries that often have violent histories.

This particular program was organized by Winrock International, which finds volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise for USAID’s Farmer2Farmer program.

The real source of these programs is the American people, who have been generous in helping many nations overcome a violent past. But few of us know exactly how that generosity takes shape. Farmer2Farmer provided an up-close view of how it works.

Senegal is the western most country on the African continent. About the size of South Dakota, it has a population of 14.6 million and is one of the most stable countries in the region. Senegal gained independence from France in 1960; as a vestige of its colonial past, the national language is France. Most of the rural population, however, speaks one of several African languages.

One of Senegal’s largest problems is that the nation is not food self-sufficient, despite having good land and resources. The main staple is rice, most of which is imported from Thailand.

The country has instituted many projects to create self-sufficiency, including developing rice farms and the introduction of large government-sponsored farms growing food crops and raising poultry for meat and eggs.

My job was to work with the teachers from two agricultural schools in the city of Ziguinchor in the Casamance Provence of Southwest Senegal. These two schools graduate 40 to 70 students annually.

Students typically have 6 to 8 years of general education before choosing a specialty. At graduation, they receive certificates in categories ranging from production agriculture to bee-keeping to agricultural mechanics.

For this “Teach the Teachers” assignment, I worked with 14 teachers in “Professional Farm Management” over a six-day period. During that time, we met in a classroom to discuss many aspects of farm management – from farming methods, to labor issues, use of fertilizers, pesticides and drip irrigation. These developing teacher-students were very interested and provided input and asked great questions.

On the fourth day, we visited a 125-acre government-sponsored farm in Casamance Provence. For me, this was the high point of the trip.

The farm has excellent soil and water but does not produce enough food to support itself – much less feed the rest of the country.

I was able to see the successes and failures the Senegalese are experiencing in trying to transform their agriculture from quarter-acre, backyard plots to large, intensely managed farms.

In Senegal, these circumstances didn’t exist 25 years ago, and yet the country now is trying to incorporate all of the practices of modern farming in an effort to feed their people and become food independent.

Two problems came up over and over in our discussions, and there were no easy answers. With very high unemployment, a farming system using modern methods involving expensive inputs – i.e. pesticides, fertilizers and machinery – will result in fewer workers.

The Senegalese tend to view farming as women’s work, so there is little incentive for men to work on farms.

As I drove 450 kilometers (270 miles) from the capital city of Dakar to my job site, I was able to see much of the country. By our standards the poverty was depressing. Even so, the market towns were teeming with smiling friendly faces.

As an American, I am very proud the U.S. is sharing its wealth and its knowledge with countries like Senegal. I look forward to my next trip.

This story was originally published January 23, 2018 at 5:33 PM with the headline "Teaching farming and creating goodwill in Senegal."