In Thiep, a farming community nestled in the Ndande arrondissement of Senegal’s Louga region, potato fields stretch wide with promise — yet for local producers, that promise is turning into frustration. With no reliable access roads and minimal cold storage infrastructure, Thiep’s farmers are facing staggering losses from an otherwise bountiful harvest.
According to Mouhamed Dieng, mayor of Thiep, the commune produces 31,000 tons of potatoes annually, representing more than 25% of Senegal’s national requirement of 120,000 tons. Yet this volume fails to reach markets effectively. “We have the quantity and the quality,” Dieng said in a recent interview with Radio Sénégal Internationale, “but no proper roads, no cold storage, and insufficient production infrastructure.”
The root cause of the crisis lies in logistical isolation. Poor road conditions deter transporters and local traders (known as “bana-bana”) from accessing the region, leaving harvested potatoes to rot in the fields. Without cold storage, the perishability of potatoes becomes an unforgiving enemy. Estimates across Senegal suggest that post-harvest losses for vegetables can reach up to 40%, and in Thiep, the lack of infrastructure pushes this figure even higher.
In 2023, the Senegalese government identified post-harvest loss reduction and infrastructure development as key pillars of its Plan Sénégal Émergent (Emerging Senegal Plan). However, much of the investment has so far focused on central and southern regions, leaving key production hubs like Thiep behind. Recent initiatives like the 15,000-ton cold storage facility launched in Mbane by Swami Agri underscore what’s possible with targeted infrastructure investment — but similar efforts have yet to reach Thiep.
Adding to the burden, many farmers operate on thin margins, with input costs for seeds, fertilizers, and labor rising steadily. Without access to reliable markets and storage options, they’re left with little incentive to reinvest or expand production, potentially threatening national self-sufficiency targets.
Agronomists and agricultural economists argue that rural connectivity and decentralized cold storage must be immediate priorities. Developing climate-resilient infrastructure — such as solar-powered cold rooms and gravel road upgrades — could drastically reduce losses and encourage local value chains.
Thiep’s story is a stark reminder that agricultural abundance means little without access and preservation. To unlock the full potential of local production, Senegal must bridge the infrastructure gap with urgency. Empowering producers with roads and storage will not only secure their livelihoods but also safeguard national food security in the years to come.
