As part of the Regional Support Program for Professional Agricultural and Farmers’ Organizations (PRAOP), Phase 3, the National Council of Livestock Farmers (CNMDE) of Senegal is implementing the project "Improvement of Dairy Production and Livestock Feed for Job Creation for Youth and Women" (APLABEJ) with the technical and financial support of ECOWAS and Swiss Cooperation. The project aims to increase dairy production while promoting youth and women employment in the livestock sector.  

Launched in June 2023 in the Thiès and Fatick regions to support the local dairy industry, the project has achieved significant milestones, including : (i) the construction of two dairy farms equipped to improve milk production and quality, (ii) the development of two fodder crop plots, incorporating a drip irrigation system to ensure a steady supply of feed for livestock, (iii) the construction of two storage warehouses, securing livestock feed, and (iv) the capacity building of 120 young people and women from family farms, equipping them with management skills and modern livestock farming techniques.

The project has also developed three hectares of land dedicated to the production of nutritious fodder varieties such as maral falfa and panicum maximum in order to guarantee quality feed for livestock and reduce dependence on imports.

Through the use of this highly nutritious fodder, the beneficiaries have been able to produce 6 tonnes of dry biomass by mowing two hectares of maral falfa, generate around 600,000 CFA francs in income from the internal sale of the fodder, thereby covering certain farm costs and ensuring a stable supply of fodder for the young beneficiary farmers.

Thanks to this initiative, local farmers now have improved resources with which to develop more efficient and sustainable milk and fodder production.