The Terria project, led by GRET and FONGS (Federation of non-governmental organisations in Senegal), is supporting agroecological transition dynamics led by local farmers organisations. Its actions target the rural territories in the groundnut basin that are particularly vulnerable in the face of climate change because of soil degradation and the food insecurity situation.
Engaging agroecological transition in Senegal, with a view to improving fertility of land and resilience of family farms has become a necessity. But families are encountering several difficulties, in particular related to the issue of land tenure. Their access to land is regularly called into question – by individuals, local authorities, the State – whereas the investments that must be made in land require land tenure security over the long term and shared rules for use of common resources.
To improve the situation, the Terria project aims to help stakeholders in the territory – family farms, land owners, village chiefs, local elected representatives in rural communes – to consult with each other and negotiate local agreements aimed at better land tenure security, and the provision of the technical and financial support necessary for families and women’s groups to adopt sustainable agroecological practices: integration of agriculture/breeding, reforestation, introduction of leguminous crops and grazing fallow in crop rotations, organic market gardening, etc. The actions began in April 2017 and, thanks to financial support from Agence française de développement (AFD), will make it possible to support 120 families and 180 women’s groups over a three-year period.
