(Ecofin Agency) - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has disbursed FCFA900 million for Senegal in the framework of the Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment Project.

Going from 2017 to 2023, the project will benefit small horticulturists from the Association of the Niayes’ gardeners unions. The region which is located in the North-Western part of the country is one of the main areas where horticulture is practiced.

“The project will help farmers improve their horticultural production and boost their earnings. It will also contribute to the transformation of the local economy in the various targeted production areas,” Moriya Yuji, regional head of JICA, told Agence de Presse Senegalaise (APS).

Let’s recall that horticulture is one of the agricultural segments to be most privileged by the Senegalese agriculture stimulation scheme (PRACAS). The roadmap was launched by the government in 2014 and has allowed the nation to achieve self-sufficiency in onion production, with an output of 350,000 tons in 2016.

PRACAS aims to raise fruits and vegetables exports to 157,000 tons by the end of the year.

Espoir Olodo