Plaquette : Regional Action Plan for the Improvement of Irrigated Agriculture in the Senegal River Basin

REGIONAL ACTION PLAN FOR THE IMPROVEMENT OF IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE IN THE SENEGAL RIVER BASIN 31 Expected Results and Benefits of the Regional Action Plan • Improved land tenure and access to water; • Better knowledge of agricultural and irrigation techniques, particularly among OPA; • Acquired know-how by a majority of irrigators in water management and maintenance of schemes; learning by managers and farmers of integrated pest management methods ; • Development of techniques for the sustainable management of irrigated soil fertility • Better organised agricultural sectors; • Easy access to financing adapted to irrigated agriculture ; • Rehabilitation and development of production lines; • Construction of cold storage warehouses, product storage areas and processing units; • Broad awareness on the importance of the environment for the sustainable development of irrigated agriculture. IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE FINANCING MECHANISM Today, farmers in the Senegal River basin have acquired remarkable know-how in irrigated farming. Armed with this experience, these farmers are only asking to be supported through the provision of an environment that allows them to prosper. Such environment is based on: • an appropriate institutional framework; • implementation of a land policy adapted to the development of irrigation (land security); • opening-up of areas; • loans adapted to the different segments of the value chain from upstream to downstream (development, inputs, services, etc. In order to to scale up irrigation it is essential to mobilize substantial financing that meets the needs of the stakeholders (family irrigated farms and so-called «private» agricultural entrepreneurs There is also a need to: