FMNR transforming lives in Senegal

February 25, 2015

The Beylene Sen Tol Project aims to sustainably improve the economic and environmental livelihoods of poor rural households in Senegal. Through numerous training and awareness-building sessions carried out in collaboration with different partners, a significant change in behaviour towards the importance of environmental management in increasing food security has been observed in the community. These testimonies illustrates project progress towards ownership and sustainability of economic development.

Penda Diao 

My name is Penda Diao (in the centre of the image on top) and I am president of the Sinthiang Coumambouré GPF (Groupement de Promotion Féminine) which has 60 members, including 7 men. I was able to participate in the exchange visit to Ziguinchor at the forest products processing units. Ziguinchor and Kolda have the same forest products. Thus, upon our return from the visit, it was decided that each member would set up an orchard. In the market garden, a nursery was set up and we have benefited from training on plant production techniques. Thus, during the rainy season, each member of the group has set up a cashew plantation with the help of young people from ASCs (Association Sportive et Culturelle) and children in the family. The areas vary from 0.5 to 1 ha. The group joined the federation of cashew producer groups in the Municipality of Dabo which is in partnership with PADEC (Programme d’Appui au Développement économique de la Casamance). This collaboration will allow, after 3 years of production, each member to have the nuts and fruits ready to be processed and sold on the market. We can put the money made from the sale of cashew products towards our children’s’ schooling, clothing, health care etc. I really thank World Vision and the Beylene Sen Tol Project for allowing us, my friends and I, to see the potential that cashews have to offer.

Omar Ndao

My name is Omar Ndao, I am 52 years old and I am head of the family. I have a wife and 12 children. I am a farmer leader in the village of Médina Gowé and I am President of our local Jatropha Producers Association. The Beylene Sen Tol Project organised training on better agricultural and livestock practices in Malem Hodar. After this training, I organised the villagers into an association called ADAK (Farmers’ Association of Kaolack and Kaffrine). From the membership fees, financial contributions and other efforts, we managed to have two financial partners (Caritas and FONGS) that help us access quality seeds and fertilizers. Now I am an entrepreneur and I have even hired a facilitator and bought two motorcycles to monitor the FMNR fields in our community and ensure environmental protection.

Penda Ndao

My name is Penda Ndao, I live in the village of Netty Daga Wolof. Thanks to FMNR, we have saved a lot of Zizyphus trees. With the harvest and sale of these fruits, I bought an oil press. Now I work in the production of peanut and soump oil that I sell for 900 francs/litre of peanut oil and 2,500 francs/litre of soump oil. I have produced 48 litres of soump oil and 800 litres of peanut oil, giving a total income of 840,000 francs per year. Given the volume of work to do during the rainy season, I have hired one or two people to help me do this work and I pay them with the money I make from the oil. I am able to provide for my daily needs and on top of that I am able to contribute to the household expenses. I am grateful for the Beylene Sen Tol Project because I no longer walk for hours in the sun in search of forest fruits.

Chris McMillan is Project Manager for World Vision’s Beylene Sen Tol project in Senegal. The project aims to sustainably improve the food security and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, their families and communities in rural Senegal through FMNR and better environmental management practices

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