Since 2019, The Ivory Foundation and Agrosemens have partnered with APAF Senegal to develop a local sector for the production of reproducible farmer-managed seeds. The project was initially launched on the Diokhar farm, located near Mbour. A second site, in the neighbouring village of Nobandane, was added in 2021. Since 2023, the collaboration between The Ivory Foundation and APAF Senegal has primarily focused on the Sandiara farm, which has become the programme’s pilot site.
The Diokhar farm
Thanks to the digging of a well connected to a solar-powered pump, funded by The Ivory Foundation in 2019, the Diokhar farm has gradually been transformed into a true oasis. The entire area is cultivated according to agroforestry principles, enhancing soil fertility and crop resilience. A greenhouse dedicated to seed production has also been installed on the site, strengthening local capacity for seed multiplication.
The Nobandane farm
In 2021, a second tunnel greenhouse was installed by The Ivory Foundation on the Nobandane farm, located about ten kilometres from Diokhar, in the municipality of Loul Sessène (Fatick region). This site complements the programme by diversifying production areas and strengthening its local anchorage.
The Sandiara farm
Since 2023, the Sandiara farm has become the core of the programme. The Ivory Foundation supports the development of a new market gardening site led by APAF Senegal, located near the two initial farms.
A 200 m² greenhouse dedicated to seed production has been established to structure and expand the production of open-pollinated seeds.
In just two years, the farm has become a highly successful model of agroecology and agroforestry. Each tree is planted with a specific function in mind: windbreaks, soil fertility improvement, living hedges, fruit production, and biomass generation for compost.
The integration of livestock further strengthens this sustainable system: three pigs, fed exclusively on plant-based resources, provide organic manure used to enrich the vegetable crops.
Seed production is now well underway. Seeds of peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, lettuce and tomatoes — from second and third generations — have already been successfully produced and redistributed to other farmers and local projects.
Beyond its technical achievements, the Sandiara farm plays a key role as a demonstration and training site. It helps disseminate sustainable agricultural practices and strengthens seed sovereignty in the surrounding areas.n on the remainder: plants will be selected to be grown to maturity and harvested as seeds according to a technical itinerary defined by Agrosemens. The seeds will be threshed and dried on site, and the batches will be traced with specific identification.
In Sandiara, the seed greenhouse bears witness to a particularly successful season. Led by Nicolas Sarr, who is in charge of production, the tour offers an insight into the diversity and vitality of the crops on display. As we move … Read More
Producing your own seeds is a key step towards greater self-sufficiency in the garden.Accessible to everyone, this practice not only helps reduce costs but also preserves varieties that are well adapted to local growing conditions. In this video, we guide … Read More
To improve the organisation and distribution of locally produced seeds, a precision scale has been made available to the various seed projects. This tool will make it easier to weigh harvests and prepare batches for storage or distribution. This equipment … Read More
At the APAF seed farm in Sandiara, the greenhouse set up with support from The Ivory Foundation is brimming with seeds this season. Among the plants grown and propagated on the farm is the marigold (calendula). This hardy and easy-to-grow … Read More
The seed farm developed by APAF with the support of The Ivory Foundation and the Marie-Pierre Crosnier Mangeat Foundation is becoming a true model of agroforestry. Every tree is integrated into the system with a specific function: windbreaks to protect … Read More
Over the years, the greenhouses set up by The Ivory Foundation have been severely tested by the weather, particularly the strong winds and heavy rains of the rainy season.The first step involved reinforcing the metal frames, which are now more … Read More
Sandiara is an agroforestry market garden created in 2023 by APAF. The Ivory Foundation supported the implementation of this project by financing the installation of a greenhouse dedicated to seed production, in partnership with the Marie-Pierre Crosnier Mangeat Foundation.This project … Read More
The Ivory Foundation has supported the establishment of this project, financing the installation of a greenhouse for seed production, in collaboration with Agrosemens and the Fondation Marie-Pierre Crosnier Mangeat. There are many encouraging signs that this project is getting closer … Read More
As part of the seed project involving Agrosemens, APAF and The Ivory Foundation, Thieleme, the technician in charge of greenhouses in the Mbour region, planted courgette seedlings in the Sandiare and Nobadane greenhouses. The varieties were selected to best suit … Read More
The Nobadane seed farm is one of three seed production sites operated by Apaf in collaboration with The Ivory Foundation and Agrosemence. It includes a greenhouse and outdoor section where onions are grown for seed production. The greenhouse has been … Read More
As part of the seed project involving Agrosemens, APAF and The Ivory Foundation, a new greenhouse has been set up at Sandiara to complete the production system, giving priority to one variety per species at each site, in order to limit … Read More
The Nobadane farm is located 10km from Diokhar. In order to increase the production of seed farms in the MBour region, the Ivory Foundation financed the construction of an additional greenhouse of 200m2. APAF has identified one of its agroforestry … Read More
The Diokhar farm is the site where the local seed production project was launched in 2019 by APAF Senegal with the support of The Ivory Foundation and Agrosemens. As this project is intended to be developed on two other sites … Read More
The Nobadane farm is located 10km from Diokhar. In order to increase the production of seed farms in the MBour region, the Ivory Foundation financed the construction of an additional greenhouse of 200m2. APAF has identified one of its agroforestry … Read More
The Diokhar farm is the site where the local seed production project was launched in 2019 by APAF Senegal with the support of The Ivory Foundation and Agrosemens. As this project is intended to be developed on two other sites … Read More
