1. INTRODUCTION
Senegal is particularly vulnerable to the rise in global food prices. Agriculture plays a major role in Senegal's economy with up to 70% of the population involved in the sector. Yet the country relies on imports for 70% of its food supply - a rate higher than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Agriculture constitutes the principal source of revenue for more than 85% of the Senegalese population, urban and rural alike. To address food security and poverty in Senegal is to address agriculture and the constraints to increasing production and marketing of food and cash crops.
The agricultural sector can be the primary source of poverty reduction in Senegal as agriculture impacts poverty through several paths. Increased participation in agriculture leads to new revenues and the capacity of people to feed themselves; new non-farm activities and jobs are stimulated by agricultural growth; and increased production can lead to lower prices. To reach Millennium Development Goal 1 (MDG) to halve extreme poverty and hunger by 2015, Senegal will need to grow its agricultural sector faster, by up to 6.6% per year. Improving yields will not be solely sufficient in achieving this goal. Rather, a broad effort will be needed to improve access to markets, storage, quality of goods, increased post-harvest and associated non-farm activities and a business environment conducive to agriculture enterprises, and other actions outlined in this plan.
Senegal's Accelerated Growth Strategy, adopted in 2006, targets agriculture to promote economic growth. Additionally, in 2008 President Wade launched an initiative - the Grand Offensive for Food and Abundance (GOANA)1 - to address Senegal's food insecurity. In FY 2009, the USG initiated the Global Food Security Response2 (GFSR) to high food prices. Senegal was one of the focus countries for this effort. The GFSR program supports the GOS's agriculture and food security plan. The United States Government (USG) is widely viewed as a key partner in implementing Senegal's goals.