Senegal’s agricultural economy accounts for roughly one-sixth of the nation’s GDP, down from nearly one-quarter in the mid-1980s. Although the sector output has expanded by 70% over the past 30 years, population growth has quadrupled and various government policies have promoted intensification. This agricultural sector risk assessment was undertaken to provide a review of production, market, and enabling environment risks facing farmers and other stakeholders across Senegal’s agriculture sector. The report has been compiled with extensive analysis of crop and livestock production, price, and meteorological data records over the period 1980–2012.
The analysis reveals that the sector is vulnerable to diverse risks. Most notably include erratic rainfall and drought as more extreme but less frequent. It also suggests a corresponding increase in the frequency of floods, but with limited aggregate impact on agricultural supply chains. After drought, locust outbreaks are the most common and costly risk affecting agricultural production. Other notable risks include price volatility and other crop pests.