Senegal has a “groundnut basin,” in which most of the country’s crop is grown. The basin covers a large swathe of central and western Senegal, north of Gambia. This area is large indeed: in 2010, over 40 percent of land under harvest was dedicated to the cultivation of groundnuts.
Did Senegal export groundnuts in the 1960s?
The 1960s were very good years for Senegalese peanuts. At the peak in 1965, Senegal produced 1.1 million tonnes of groundnuts, and exported about 300,000 tonnes of them —which represented roughly 20 percent of total global peanut exports.
What is going on with Senegal’s groundnut sector?
The Government of Senegal, as a part of its 2008 Grand Agricultural Offensive for Food Security (GOANA), has begun offering subsidized inputs for Senegalese farmers, and offered $18 million in subsidies for groundnut seeds (mostly certified seeds) in the 2014/2015 year. The Senegalese groundnut sector is in an exciting state of flux.
What happened to groundnuts in Senegal?
The groundnut basin of central Senegal was effectively the epicenter of the 2002 drought, and production fell by about 70 percent. The next major drought was in 2011—after 2 years of bumper harvests during which Senegal finally managed to once again attain production greater than 1 million tonnes.
What is groundnut oil processing in Africa?
Groundnut oil processing mainly involves seed preparation, oil pressing and refining. The machinery used in the groundnut oil processing in Africa comprises of the dehulling machine or decorticator, cleaning machine, cooking machine, oil expeller, oil filter press and oil refining machine.
Why is the peanut trade important in Senegal?
The peanut trade has always been an important economic activity in Senegal. As the main cash crop, peanut cultivation and trade occupy a large number of farmers around the groundnut basin. The crop also contributes considerably to the subsistence of a large share of the Senegalese population, especially in rural areas.