MAHDIA project group internship in Senegal
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by
TSARA
The MAHDIA project group internship began on February 11, 2025, in Djilor, in the department of Fatick. For ten days, 48 agricultural engineering students from the University of Sine Saloum El-Hâdj Ibrahima Niass (USSEIN, Senegal) and the Institut Agro Montpellier (France) carried out intensive fieldwork in a scientific immersion program.
This immersion took place in several municipalities in the department: Fatick, Fimela, Diofor, Niakhar, Ndiob, and Tattaguine. The main objective was to introduce trainees to territorial diagnostic methods in collaboration with local actors, in order to analyze the agricultural and environmental dynamics of the territory.
The internship was supervised by researchers from the Senegalese Agricultural Research Institute (ISRA), USSEIN, and Institut Agro Montpellier, who assisted students in their research and analysis on key topics such as water resilience, food and nutritional security, and strategies for promoting local agricultural products.
Immersion in the Sine-Saloum Islands
In addition to their fieldwork, the students took part in an excursion to the Sine-Saloum islands, a region listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its exceptional biodiversity. This trip gave them an insight into the ecological and socio-economic issues facing the region, while enabling them to talk to local people about their agricultural and food practices.
The visit to Mar Lodji Island was a highlight, marked by enriching encounters with farmers, livestock breeders, and women who process local products. These exchanges gave the trainees a better understanding of local value chains and the challenges involved in processing and marketing agri-food products.
Closing ceremony and handover in Fatick
After seven days in the field and three days of workshop work, the 51 trainees presented the results of their surveys at an official ceremony in Fatick. This presentation brought together local authorities, researchers, agricultural technicians, and representatives of the Dynamique pour une Transition Agroécologique Locale (DyTAEL) and the Association des Consommateurs du Département de Fatick (ASCODEF).
The presentations highlighted regional assessments carried out on several products of regional interest (millet, peanuts, cowpeas, salt, bissap, etc.), as well as recommendations for strengthening production and processing systems. The discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on opportunities for improvement and innovation in local value chains.
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