Gender Issues and Agriculture in Senegal

Currently at 13.8% of GDP, agriculture remains vitally important to the Senegalese economy and to its inhabitants, encompassing 77.5% of the workforce. The primacy of agriculture and fishing has, however, been replaced in export earnings by phosphate production. Revenue from tourism is also important. Senegal’s historical reliance on the domestic and export markets for groundnuts has reduced with the decline in prices and competition from new sources of production in China, the U.S., and Argentina. The sector is seeking ways to diversify agricultural production and to increase locally-based processing to add value for products sold in domestic, regional, and international markets. A recent review of donor programs in Senegal concludes that diversification into horticultural production shows the greatest promise.