Presented to parliament, the 2026 draft budget of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock (MASAE) reflects a profound transformation of the primary sector, a pillar of the Senegalese economy. Driven by a firm ambition to achieve food sovereignty, this budget, according to the ministry, demonstrates "a desire to break with traditional approaches and a resolute focus on the modernization, productivity, and resilience of rural areas."

The majority of parliamentarians welcomed the coherence of the ministerial vision and the significant increase in resources allocated to agriculture and livestock farming, as discussed in committee. For them, "this budget sends a strong signal, finally recognizing the strategic role of the sector in the fight against poverty, youth unemployment, and food insecurity."

However, there are many concerns among producers. And behind the figures and projections, several members of parliament were keen to point out "a less rosy reality on the ground." They spoke of "persistent dysfunctions" which, according to them, "risk hindering the achievement of the stated objectives."

Among the main concerns raised are the poor quality of seeds, particularly peanut seeds, in some localities, negatively impacting yields; recurring delays in the distribution of agricultural inputs, often accompanied by a lack of transparency in their allocation; the late start of marketing campaigns, which pushes many producers to sell their harvests at rock-bottom prices, due to a lack of organized and profitable outlets; the glaring shortage of modern agricultural equipment, particularly tractors, seed drills and combine harvesters, even though mechanization is presented as a central lever for productivity; and the difficulties faced by support structures, such as ANCAR, SAED, SODAGRI and ANIDA, which are confronted with a lack of human, financial and logistical resources to effectively support producers.

In addition to these structural problems, there are significant security and agricultural resource protection issues, including cattle rustling, which has become a worrying scourge in several rural areas; recurring conflicts between farmers and herders, exacerbated by the scarcity of land and water; the proliferation of bushfires, which destroy thousands of hectares of crops and pastures every year; and increasing land pressure, which threatens the survival of agricultural land for the benefit of real estate or industrial projects.

These are all challenges that MPs consider incompatible with the goal of food sovereignty if concrete and rapid responses are not provided.

Food sovereignty based on collective mobilization

In response to these questions, the Minister of Agriculture stressed that "food sovereignty cannot be the sole responsibility of the State." He called for "shared responsibility among the various stakeholders: local authorities, producers, farmers' organizations, the private sector, and technical and financial partners."

For the minister, this 2026 budget must mark the transition from words to action. It is not only a matter of "injecting more resources, but above all of reforming implementation mechanisms, improving transparency, strengthening oversight, and accelerating the modernization of the sector."

"We must build a resilient, competitive and inclusive agricultural model, capable of sustainably feeding Senegal and creating decent jobs for our youth," he insisted before the national assembly.