The video discusses the critical issue of soil degradation in Senegal, emphasizing its negative impact on agricultural productivity and food security. To address this, Senegal has embarked on a regional soil fertility mapping program within West Africa, aiming to provide reliable pedological data to better inform public policies.
The program is implemented by ISRA (Institut Sénégalais de Recherches Agricoles) under the framework of the LDSF (Land Degradation Surveillance Framework) protocol, a robust soil sampling methodology developed about 20 years ago by the SFOR (Soil Fertility and Organic Resources) team at ICRAF. This protocol enables the collection of high-quality, comprehensive data on landscape dynamics, soil health, and vegetation, providing a holistic picture that surpasses previous methods focused on limited parameters.
The initiative is part of a sub-regional project involving six West African countries: Senegal, Mali, Niger, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Gambia. Funded through a loan agreement with the World Bank, the project is coordinated by Senegal’s Ministry of Agriculture, with ISRA leading implementation. Key national partners include INP (Institut National de la Pédologie), LUCAT, and the Seed Production Unit, while the sub-regional partner LICRAF coordinates relations with other collaborators such as Crop Nuté and Mohamed VI centers.
