Bird control: PRDC-VFS equips the Saint-Louis region with drones to combat seed-eating birds

The Senegal River Valley Community Resilience and Development Project (PRDC-VFS) is strengthening its efforts to control granivorous birds in the Saint-Louis region. It has recently acquired a significant amount of equipment, including two large drones and two surveying devices, at an estimated total cost of 80 million CFA francs. This equipment will be made available to technical services and agricultural stakeholders in the region.

A new step in crop protection in the Senegal River Valley. Faced with recurring damage caused by grain-eating birds, particularly in production areas, the PRDC-VFS project aims to provide a technological solution to this scourge affecting farmers. The acquisition of these drones stems from the roadmap developed following a study on mapping agricultural value chains, conducted at the project's inception.

According to Mamadou Diedhiou, coordinator of the PRDC-VFS, this study identified several priority actions to support the development of targeted agricultural sectors, particularly onions and tomatoes. Among the recommendations was the acquisition of drones to strengthen bird control efforts.

“This need also emerged during a meeting organized by the governor of Saint-Louis. Following the discussions, the PRDC, in collaboration with SAED, the Directorate of Plant Protection (DPV) and other stakeholders, deemed it necessary to acquire this equipment and make it available to the region,” explained Mamadou Diedhiou.

Beyond the Saint-Louis region, this equipment could also contribute to better coordination of the fight against granivorous birds on a cross-border scale. The project coordinator mentioned discussions with Mauritania to develop synergies between the two countries, which face the same challenges in the agricultural areas of the Senegal River valley.

The management and maintenance of this equipment is, however, a major challenge. While the technical responsibility should primarily fall to the DPV, the PRDC-VFS intends to work with the various relevant departments to define a sustainable management model. The objective is, in particular, to ensure optimal use of the equipment and to anticipate its replacement.

The official handover ceremony for the drones was held in the presence of the Governor of Saint-Louis and representatives from other government departments. The equipment is then expected to be entrusted to the relevant agencies, including the DPV (Department of Public Works), SAED (Agency for the Development of the Environment), and the Regional Directorate of Rural Development (DRDR).

To ensure their proper use, staff have already received specific training. One or two DPV staff members, as well as a representative from SAED, have notably been trained in the use of these devices.

With this investment of approximately 80 million CFA francs, the PRDC-VFS intends to strengthen the intervention capacities of technical services and offer producers in the valley new means to protect their crops against the persistent threat of granivorous birds.