Senegal

Despite a steady decline in its share of GDP and exports the agricultural sector continues to play an important role in African economies and in Senegal in particular where it employs approximately 60 per cent of the labour force. It accounts for a quarter of national public investment but contributed only 6 per cent to GDP between 2000 and 2009 (Ministère de l’Economie et des Finances du Sénégal 2011). Horticulture is one of the promising sectors as can be observed not only from a rapid growth strategy but also from many national agricultural development strategies because of the vast range of products included and the high level of income it generates for producers especially in urban and suburban areas. In addition Senegal has both a favourable climate and a good geographical position for the export of tropical off-season products. These factors have enabled the country to increase the production and export of fruit and vegetables significantly. Horticultural production has experienced a boom over the last ten years increasing from about 150000 to 228000 metric tons between 1992 and 2000 and to 429000 metric tons in 2007 an increase of 5.5 per cent per year. In 2008 the production of vegetables (excluding potatoes and fresh tomatoes) recorded a growth rate of 8 per cent and the production of fruit experienced a growth rate of 81 per cent. Accordingly exports have increased from 6175 metric tons in 1995 to 9000 metric tons in 2000 and 31000 metric tons in 2009 an increase of about 5.5 per cent per year. The main target markets for exports are neighbouring countries and the European Union (Ndoye-Niane 2004; Senegal National Agency of Statistics and Demography 2006–2010).