End of the hot dry season campaign: 47,384 hectares sown in the Senegal River valley

The 2026 hot dry season campaign is entering its final stretch in the Senegal River Valley. According to SAED, 47,384 hectares have been planted this year, an increase of 1,300 hectares compared to the previous season. Harvesting has already been completed on 85% of the cultivated area, despite delays related to financing, marketing, and weather conditions.

In the Senegal River valley, the 2026 hot dry season campaign is drawing to a close. According to figures released by the Société d'aménagement et d'exploitation des terres du delta du fleuve Sénégal et des vallées du fleuve Sénégal et de la Falémé (SAED), producers have cultivated 47,384 hectares across the valley.

The Dagana delegation accounts for the majority of cultivated land, with approximately 34,000 hectares, representing nearly three-quarters of the total sown area. According to SAED, this trend reflects the increasing development of agriculture in the valley.

“For this 2026 hot dry season campaign, we have completed 47,384 hectares with producers across the entire valley. 70% of this has been completed in the Dagana delegation with 34,000 hectares,” explained Abou Sall, Director of Development and Support to Local Authorities at SAED.

85% of the area has already been harvested

Although the campaign had some difficulties at the start, particularly due to issues related to financing and marketing, harvesting operations are now progressing at a satisfactory pace.

According to SAED, 85% of the planted areas have already been harvested. This leaves approximately 7,000 hectares to be harvested, mainly in the Dagana delegation.

To expedite operations, several combine harvesters have been deployed across the various production areas. This expansion of the agricultural equipment fleet should enable producers to complete the harvest as quickly as possible.

“We are currently in the harvest phase. As we speak, 85% of the areas have already been harvested. There are approximately 7,000 hectares left to harvest, mainly in the Dagana delegation,” Abou Sall specified.

Producers reassured despite concerns

Producer organizations also expressed a sense of relief. Delays at the start of the season and the threat of rain had raised concerns about harvest conditions.

Alioune Gaye, president of the Grand Digue Union, believes however that the situation is evolving favorably thanks to the support of SAED and the Dagana delegation.

“The work is progressing well. With the support of SAED and the Dagana delegation, the Grand Digue Committee is doing everything possible to relieve the producers. Certainly, at the beginning, we were a little worried, but today we are reassured,” he said.

The official remains cautious, however, given the unpredictable weather. He hopes that the lack of rain in the coming days will allow the operations to be completed without major difficulties.

Mboundoum is relying on machinery to finish the harvest

In Mboundoum, harvesting operations are also continuing with the support of several stakeholders. Ahmadou Kane, vice-president of the Mboundoum Union, recalls that the weather conditions and the late start had complicated the initial stages of the harvest.

Of the Union's 3,300 hectares, approximately 2,200 hectares had been committed to the campaign. Currently, nearly 1,000 hectares remain to be harvested.

“The intervention of SAED, CIRIZ and the organizations that went to get machines has helped to improve the situation. The harvest is going well. We hope, with the machines that are on site, to finish in a few days if it does not rain,” explained Ahmadou Kane.

With an increase of 1,300 hectares compared to last year and a harvest already carried out on the vast majority of the areas, the 2026 hot dry season campaign thus confirms the desire of the valley's producers to increase the cultivated areas.