Publication: The Agribusiness Innovation Center of Senegal : Scaling a Competitive Horticulture Sector through Value Adding Post-Harvest Processing
Date
2011
ISSN
Published
2011
Author(s)
Brethenoux, Julia
Dioh, Simon
Drago, Nicola
Giddings, Steven
Olafsen, Ellen
Thaller, Jim
Abstract
Senegal has tremendous potential to
raise incomes and create jobs in agriculture. This potential
is particularly strong in the horticulture sector where
Senegal enjoys a comparative advantage because of the
following factors: favorable climatic and water conditions;
capacity to supply European markets at a time when others
cannot; proximity to European markets with availability of
competitive air and sea transport; access to quality inputs;
and few policy distortions. The fact that exports have
increased from 2,700 tons in 1991 to 51,270 tons in 2011
indicates the quality and demand for Senegalese horticulture
products. However, only about 5 percent of the fruits and
vegetables grown in Senegal are processed. The country
imports many processed products that could be produced
competitively domestically, and exports raw materials that,
if processed, could be sold at much higher margins.
Processing could also help reduce post-harvest losses, which
dramatically affect farmers' incomes. The country is,
therefore, not realizing the income and job generating
potential offered by its comparative advantage. This
document proposes a new model for promoting the growth of a
competitive value adding horticulture sector in Senegal. The
Agribusiness Innovation Center (AIC) will provide a set of
financial and nonfinancial services to high-growth potential
entrepreneurs, aiming to accelerate the growth of their
enterprises and demonstrating product, process, and business
model innovation across the horticulture sector. AIC
complements existing efforts focused on farm-level
improvements and foreign investment facilitation.
Citation
“Brethenoux, Julia; Dioh, Simon; Drago, Nicola; Giddings, Steven; Olafsen, Ellen; Thaller, Jim. 2011. The Agribusiness Innovation Center of Senegal : Scaling a Competitive Horticulture Sector through Value Adding Post-Harvest Processing. © World Bank, Washington, DC. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/17659 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”