150
M. T. Sall et al.
banks and around the lake. The variable salinity of the water is a major constraint on
agricultural production in the region.
Wetlands are omnipresent in the Delta. The Ndiaël basin near Guiers Lake,
Diawling National Park (Mauritania) and the Djoudj Bird Park (Senegal)—with
its plant and animal biodiversity—are listed as Ramsar wetlands (treaty adopted
on February 2, 1971 on Wetlands of International Importance). This designates the
region with special heritage status and proven ecotourism potential. These natural
wetlands need water in quantity and quality to maintain their rich biodiversity. They
also have a role in flood control and as a natural filter. In the past, the lake was full
of fish, but today there are few because of pollution and the proliferation of invasive
plants.
The Senegal River Delta is also a region with great agricultural potential, thanks
to the presence of high-quality fresh water (class C1-S1 according to the Riverside
classification), fertile soils and strong solar radiation conducive to photosynthesis.
The Delta has been the subject of several hydraulic and hydro-agricultural developments. For a long time, it has been accessed by water resource users from the
agriculture, livestock and fishing sectors.
Traditionally, subsistence farming was practiced mainly on the river banks or its
tributaries, benefiting from soil moisture following receding floods. However, rainfed
agriculture is highly vulnerable due to the very low rainfall. Hydro-agricultural developments have gradually led to the emergence of more profitable, but also more waterconsuming, irrigated areas. Agro-industry in the Delta currently consumes about
325 million m
3 /year over an estimated 22,000 ha, and private farmers consume 400
million m
3 /year over an estimated 35,000 ha. The Senegal River has an annual volume
of about 18 billion m
3 /year, with an average flow rate of 700 m
3 /s (OLAC 2017).
Agro-industry and smallholder farmers alike take their water from and discharge
wastewater into, the Senegal River or Lake Guiers (Tandian 2008).
Climate change will, by definition, have less impact on irrigated agriculture
compared to rainfed agriculture, particularly in our case study (abundance of water).
However, irrigated agriculture in the Senegal River Delta is and will remain vulnerable, especially because there are so many negative externalities. More than the
agricultural performance itself, profitability, sustainability and resilience of irrigated
agriculture should be the most relevant decision-making criteria in order to address
climate change, demographic pressure and environmental risk.
3 Agricultural and Agro-Economic Actors
3.1 Brief Review of Agricultural Stakeholders
Currently, many different actors are working in the region independently or semiindependently. There are the autonomous agro-industrial and industrial complexes,
such as the Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise (CSS) for sugar production, the Société
M. T. Sall et al.
banks and around the lake. The variable salinity of the water is a major constraint on
agricultural production in the region.
Wetlands are omnipresent in the Delta. The Ndiaël basin near Guiers Lake,
Diawling National Park (Mauritania) and the Djoudj Bird Park (Senegal)—with
its plant and animal biodiversity—are listed as Ramsar wetlands (treaty adopted
on February 2, 1971 on Wetlands of International Importance). This designates the
region with special heritage status and proven ecotourism potential. These natural
wetlands need water in quantity and quality to maintain their rich biodiversity. They
also have a role in flood control and as a natural filter. In the past, the lake was full
of fish, but today there are few because of pollution and the proliferation of invasive
plants.
The Senegal River Delta is also a region with great agricultural potential, thanks
to the presence of high-quality fresh water (class C1-S1 according to the Riverside
classification), fertile soils and strong solar radiation conducive to photosynthesis.
The Delta has been the subject of several hydraulic and hydro-agricultural developments. For a long time, it has been accessed by water resource users from the
agriculture, livestock and fishing sectors.
Traditionally, subsistence farming was practiced mainly on the river banks or its
tributaries, benefiting from soil moisture following receding floods. However, rainfed
agriculture is highly vulnerable due to the very low rainfall. Hydro-agricultural developments have gradually led to the emergence of more profitable, but also more waterconsuming, irrigated areas. Agro-industry in the Delta currently consumes about
325 million m
3 /year over an estimated 22,000 ha, and private farmers consume 400
million m
3 /year over an estimated 35,000 ha. The Senegal River has an annual volume
of about 18 billion m
3 /year, with an average flow rate of 700 m
3 /s (OLAC 2017).
Agro-industry and smallholder farmers alike take their water from and discharge
wastewater into, the Senegal River or Lake Guiers (Tandian 2008).
Climate change will, by definition, have less impact on irrigated agriculture
compared to rainfed agriculture, particularly in our case study (abundance of water).
However, irrigated agriculture in the Senegal River Delta is and will remain vulnerable, especially because there are so many negative externalities. More than the
agricultural performance itself, profitability, sustainability and resilience of irrigated
agriculture should be the most relevant decision-making criteria in order to address
climate change, demographic pressure and environmental risk.
3 Agricultural and Agro-Economic Actors
3.1 Brief Review of Agricultural Stakeholders
Currently, many different actors are working in the region independently or semiindependently. There are the autonomous agro-industrial and industrial complexes,
such as the Compagnie Sucrière Sénégalaise (CSS) for sugar production, the Société