Renewable Innovations Boosting Senegalese Agriculture
Senegal’s long-term development policy, the Emerging Senegal Plan (PSE), identifies agriculture as a primary driver for poverty alleviation, job creation, and the enhancement of food security in the country.
In addition to legislative actions, the government is mobilizing private sector investment in smart agriculture under efforts to enhance agricultural productivity by utilizing modern and environmentally friendly technology.
Solar-Powered Cold Storage
Renewable energy developer Off-Grid Africa developed Much Cooler, a solar-powered cooling solution that assists local farmers in preserving their harvests. Maintaining the cold chain is critical in agriculture, and power outages in Senegal may make this task difficult. The entirely solar-powered turnkey solution includes LFP battery storage, inverters, and an optional AC connection for usage on and off the grid. This approach is set to boost agricultural storage using sustainable and innovative technologies, contributing to nutrition security, price stability, and improved food quality.
Solar Water Pumps
Water scarcity is a concerning issue for agricultural production in rural Senegal. Renewable energy developer CREATE! has successfully built a system to improve water management through solar integration. In restored wells, solar-powered pumping systems have been constructed, allowing communities to readily obtain and store abundant fresh water in 5,000-liter reservoirs. This approach has reduced the need for time-consuming and costly commercial water systems. Year-round food farming is now possible without relying on expensive and non-renewable fossil fuels, helping populations in rural Senegal.
Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Value Chains in Senegal
South Korea is funding the Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Value Chains in the Senegal River Valley project. The project aims to address agricultural challenges while enhancing the productivity and resilience of rice and vegetable value chains in the Dagana region of Saint-Louis. Firstly, it aims to improve the harvest rate and income of rice and vegetable farm households in the target area by encouraging the adoption of solar PV technologies and climate-smart practices. Secondly, the project aims to provide financial services through digital banking and establish an agribusiness hub to enhance the supply of inputs and access to outputs for farmers. Thirdly, it seeks to create green businesses and employment opportunities for youth and women. Finally, the project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by solarizing grid-powered pumping stations and promoting climate-smart practices in the region. The project was launched in February this year.
Representing one of Senegal’s biggest economic sectors, the agriculture industry also contributes the most to greenhouse gas emissions in the country. As such, the government is inviting private sector project developers and financiers to invest in Senegalese agriculture, deploying innovative renewable energy solutions to enhance productivity while reducing environmental footprint.
Source: https://energycapitalpower.com
