Enampore: Young people in Kamobeul are betting on cashew nuts as an engine for the future

In the commune of Enampore, in the department of Ziguinchor, the youth of Kamobeul mobilized around a cashew tree reforestation activity initiated by the Ziguinchor Regional Coordination Framework for Cashew Sector Operators (CROFAZ). This operation reflects the ambition to make cashew a driver of local development and a concrete response to the search for employment among young people.

“We are truly committed to reforestation… if only to cultivate the land,” affirms Roger Tendeng, a youth spokesperson who sees this crop as a readily available resource. Participants learned best planting practices, including spacing plants 15 meters apart and using biodegradable sleeves—techniques that strengthen their resolve to take ownership of this project.

For Demba Diémé, president of CROFAZ, the ambition is clear: “Our goal is for Senegal to be among the top 5 cashew-producing countries in the world within 3 to 5 years.” With 80,000 nurseries already distributed, the Integrated Cashew Farms program aims to boost national production and diversify crops. The regulated spacing of the plants allows cashews to be grown alongside peanuts, sesame, corn, millet, as well as market gardening and fish farming.

Beyond the figures, Enampore's activity illustrates a new dynamic: a generation aware that the future is built in the fields as much as in the offices. "The land is the primary wealth we have in our region," Roger Tendeng reminds us. A powerful message that resonates throughout Lower Casamance, where the cashew nut has become a symbol of resilience and shared prosperity.