Heifer International, RESOPP launch forage farming initiative to boost dairy sector

SENEGAL – Heifer International, in partnership with the Réseau des Organisations Paysannes et Pastorales du Sénégal (RESOPP), has launched a forage farming model in Passy, Fatick region of Senegal.

The initiative is designed to create 10,000 jobs in Senegal’s dairy sector, with 9,000 designated for young people and 70 per cent of those reserved for young women.  

Forage farming, the cultivation of crops such as grasses and legumes to feed livestock, will focus on producing forage and dual-purpose cowpeas to improve the quality and availability of feed for dairy cows.

The project aims to create 130,000 sustainable jobs across Senegal, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger, while working to close the living income gap for smallholder dairy farmers.

By expanding access to quality animal feed and strengthening local milk value chains, the forage farming model is expected to generate new opportunities for youth entrepreneurs and boost income for farming families.  

The project builds on an earlier phase led by La Laiterie du Berger (LDB) between 2019 and 2022, and Heifer International and RESOPP with partners including LDB and FAM Advisory SAS are implementing the current phase.

A shortage of quality animal feed has been one of the greatest obstacles for dairy farmers in the region. The new forage model addresses this by providing access to crops that increase milk yields and help farms withstand the pressures of climate change.  

To launch the program, partners are distributing 80 metric tons of cowpea seed, 250 tons of fertilizer, 1,000 liters of phytosanitary products, and 10,000 hermetic PICS storage bags.

These inputs are reaching cooperatives in 10 regions, giving farmers the tools they need to improve productivity and raise their incomes.

Ndour of RESOPP said, “This project came right on time. The seeds now being distributed are a symbol of hope in a context marked by climate change challenges. They provide farmers with a sustainable alternative, positioning cowpea as a resource for better productivity and job creation in the milk value chain.”

With 6,300 of the 10,000 targeted jobs designated for young women, the program places gender inclusion at its core.

Initial distribution efforts have already begun in regions like Thiès, Kaolack, Mbour, Louga, and Foundiougne, reaching 2,050 registered producers with a strong female participation rate of 64.78%.

The initiative is set to expand to several more areas, with distributions scheduled for Namarel, Tataguine, Niakhar, Kolda, Diourbel, Sédhiou, Kédougou, Kébémer, Nioro, and Podor.

So far, cooperatives in Léona (138 producers), Nguiguélakh (100 producers), and Dahra Djolof (100 producers) have received their allocations, bringing vital resources and economic opportunity to rural communities across Senegal as the project works to meet its 70% gender equity goal.

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