2026 agricultural season in Podor: farmers reveal their difficulties

The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock, Dr. Cheikhou Oumar Ba, visited the department of Podor on Thursday, October 1st, as part of the monitoring of the 2026 agricultural campaign.

In Gamadji, the minister visited the Village Irrigation Scheme operated by a union comprising four Economic Interest Groups (EIGs) and 782 members. Of the 70 hectares involved, 58 are currently under cultivation.

During the discussions, the producers outlined several difficulties they face. These include access to agricultural equipment, mechanization, storage infrastructure, energy, and the condition of certain pumping stations.

The delegation also visited several agricultural development projects managed by SAED in Podor. As part of the Flood Risk Prevention Plan (PPRI), nearly 9,000 hectares of masonry canals are planned between Dagana and Podor. In Gamadji, another 84-hectare area was presented, while various other development projects cover approximately 1,100 hectares, benefiting 1,188 household heads and more than 650 individuals.

In Lérabé, the delegation visited a solar-powered pumping station. In Guèdué, producers focused primarily on the rehabilitation and renewal of pumping stations, as well as access to agricultural equipment.

Discussions also covered production costs, marketing of locally grown rice, and storage challenges. Post-harvest losses, particularly in the onion sector, were also addressed.

With nearly 140,000 hectares of irrigable land, the Podor department has significant hydro-agricultural potential. However, on the ground, producers still highlight several constraints that affect their activities and production capacities.

The ministerial tour thus made it possible to take stock of the ongoing arrangements and to directly gather the concerns of farmers in the context of the 2026 agricultural campaign.