IFAD IMPACT ASSESSMENT - Agricultural value chains support project (PAFA): Senegal

Value chain development is an important strategy to achieve sustainable development for smallholder farmers. It focuses not only on farmers and their direct livelihood but recognizes that sustainable agricultural projects ought to consider the entire production process by not only improving the factors of production for smallholder farmers but also allowing for greater integration into local markets, and the strengthening of key stakeholders along the value chain. The Agricultural Value Chains Support Project (in French Projet d’Appui aux Filières Agricoles (PAFA)) capitalizes on the value chain approach to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Senegal’s Groundnut Basin. Approved in 2008 and put into effect on February 5th 2010, the Agricultural Value Chains Support Project has, as of today, reached 37,734 households. The project is articulated around five components: (1) agricultural diversification and access to local market (2) development and structuring of regional value chains, (3) national coordination, knowledge management and project management, (4) climate change adaptation, and (5) support services for rural finance. The project was innovative in that, in addition to providing support to farmers through producer organisations (POs), there was an emphasis on improving concertation and collaboration around key value chains.