Transjardins presents four projects in Senegal, each aimed at improving market garden production and nutrition for vulnerable populations. A ‘seed production’ component, developed in partnership with organic seed company Agrosemens, completes the package to help these projects become self-sufficient in the medium term.
Rufisque (Dakar region)
In 2021, Dessine l’Espoir created an educational vegetable garden on the roof of the ‘Le Petit Prince d’Handiscole’ school.
Founded in 1998 by Anna Gaye, this inclusive school caters for 60 disabled and non-disabled pupils.
The urban vegetable garden designed by the association uses innovative metal structures to optimise space by enabling crops to be grown in tiers. The crops are grown in recycled plastic tubs and cans. The children are involved in the daily upkeep of the garden.
Dawady (Tambacounda region)
Set up in 2017 with the support of the Belgian Cooperation via ULB Coopération, the Dawady agroforestry garden is a community project for a group of women. Located next to the Dawady health centre, this market garden area benefits from a borehole, a water tower and processing premises. In 2019, 134 women were trained in agroforestry techniques and joined an economic interest group (EIG). Part of the garden is specially reserved for vulnerable pregnant women, with vegetables distributed by a mobile midwife. Since 2020, this project has been extended to support five outlying villages.
Bala (Tambacounda region)
In 2021, The Ivory Foundation is funding the creation of an 800m2 garden dedicated to the production of organic seeds at the Bala medical centre, near Tambacounda.
The centre, set up by Kaicedrat in 2012, provides medical care to the people of this remote town and 20 villages 20km away.
The seeds are selected for their adaptation to local conditions and provide a basis for the gardens in the surrounding villages. This project strengthens food self-sufficiency and supports local agro-ecological practices.
Sandiara (Mbour region)
Th Ivory Foundation has begun working with APAF Senegal and Agrosemens to develop a local farmers’ seed production chain.
An initial farm was supported in 2019 in Diokhar, equipped with a solar well and cultivated using agroforestry principles.
In 2021, a second farm was set up in Nobandane, increasing production capacity, followed by a third in Sandiara.
The aim is to produce vegetable seeds that are adapted to the climate and meet the needs of local consumers.
