Deadline: 25-May-2026
The World Food Programme (WFP) is implementing an agricultural development and food security intervention in Salémata, located in the Kédougou region of Senegal. The programme aims to enhance local rice production systems to ensure a stable supply of rice for school feeding programmes while improving livelihoods of smallholder producers.
The intervention is designed to strengthen the entire rice value chain, from production to processing and distribution.
Geographic Focus
The project is being implemented in:
- Salémata, Kédougou region, Senegal
The intervention specifically targets the cooperative of Salémata and surrounding rice-producing communities.
Key Objectives
The main objectives of the programme include:
- Increasing rice production for school feeding programmes
- Strengthening cooperative-based agricultural systems
- Improving food security and local food availability
- Enhancing productivity across 60 hectares of rice cultivation
- Supporting youth and women inclusion in agriculture
- Reducing post-harvest losses and improving rice quality
- Strengthening value chain efficiency from farm to school canteens
The programme focuses on both production efficiency and system sustainability.
Target Group and Participation Criteria
The programme targets rice producers within the Salémata cooperative.
Key participation requirements include:
- At least 50 percent youth participation
- At least 50 percent women participation
- Continuous presence of producers during the cultivation cycle
- Selection validated with cooperative management committees
This ensures inclusive participation and local ownership of production systems.
Core Areas of Intervention
The initiative covers a full range of agricultural and value chain development activities:
- Access to certified rice seeds, fertilizers, and herbicides
- Agricultural mechanization for land preparation and harvesting
- Climate-resilient farming practices and soil conservation
- Water management and integrated crop management techniques
- Post-harvest handling, including drying and storage systems
- Rice milling, packaging, and processing infrastructure
- Logistics systems for transport and distribution
- Market access for school feeding supply chains
- Cooperative strengthening and organizational development
These interventions are designed to improve productivity and reduce losses.
Agricultural Input and Production Support
Farmers will receive structured support to improve rice cultivation outcomes, including:
- Certified seed distribution
- Fertilizer and input supply systems
- Herbicide access and usage training
- Agricultural insurance support
- Mechanized services for planting and harvesting
This support aims to increase yield quality and production efficiency.
Capacity Building and Training
A major component of the programme is farmer training and skill development.
Training will cover:
- Rice cultivation techniques and best practices
- Water and soil management
- Climate-resilient agriculture methods
- Integrated crop management systems
- Seed quality selection and usage
- Post-harvest handling and quality control
Farmers will also receive ongoing technical supervision throughout the production cycle.
Post-Harvest Management and Processing
The programme emphasizes reducing post-harvest losses and improving rice quality through:
- Drying and storage systems for paddy rice
- Quality control and traceability systems
- Milling and packaging operations
- Distribution systems for school feeding programmes
A key component includes establishing a structured and transparent processing chain.
Infrastructure Development
The intervention supports the installation and operationalization of a rice milling facility for the cooperative.
This includes:
- Setup of milling equipment and infrastructure
- Training on operation and maintenance
- Strengthening cooperative management of processing units
- Commercial and financial skill development for sustainability
The goal is to build long-term local processing capacity.
Monitoring, Evaluation, and Data Systems
The programme includes strong monitoring and evaluation systems to track performance.
Key indicators include:
- Area of land cultivated
- Rice yield and production volumes
- Post-harvest loss reduction
- Input usage efficiency
- Farmer participation rates
- Quality of processed rice
Regular reporting will ensure accountability and performance tracking.
How the Programme Works
Applicants are expected to design integrated agricultural support systems that strengthen the entire rice production and value chain.
Core implementation steps include:
- Organizing rice production across 60 hectares
- Ensuring inclusive participation of youth and women
- Providing agricultural inputs and mechanization services
- Training farmers on production and climate-resilient practices
- Supporting harvesting, storage, and milling operations
- Establishing distribution systems for school feeding programmes
- Implementing monitoring and evaluation frameworks
The programme emphasizes both productivity and system sustainability.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common issues in proposals include:
- Focusing only on production without value chain integration
- Lack of clear cooperative strengthening strategy
- Weak inclusion plan for youth and women participation
- Missing post-harvest and processing components
- No structured monitoring and evaluation framework
- Limited focus on sustainability of milling and storage systems
Strong proposals cover the entire agricultural value chain from production to distribution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the main goal of the programme?
To improve rice production in Salémata to support school feeding programmes and strengthen local food systems.
Q2. Where is the project implemented?
In Salémata, located in the Kédougou region of Senegal.
Q3. What scale of production is targeted?
Rice production across 60 hectares of land.
Q4. Who is the target group?
Members of the Salémata cooperative, with at least 50 percent youth and 50 percent women participation.
Q5. What types of support are provided?
Inputs, mechanization, training, post-harvest systems, milling infrastructure, and market access support.
Q6. What infrastructure is included?
A rice milling facility with support for installation, operation, and management.
Q7. How is success measured?
Through indicators such as yield, cultivated area, production volume, post-harvest losses, and participation rates.
Conclusion
The World Food Programme initiative in Salémata focuses on strengthening the entire rice production value chain to support school feeding programmes in Senegal. By integrating input support, training, mechanization, processing infrastructure, and strong cooperative systems, the programme aims to increase agricultural productivity, reduce losses, and build a sustainable and inclusive local food system.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.