Senegal: Technical assistance for the development of aquaculture centres, and the development and implementation of an aquaculture training programme for producers

Project background:

Senegal has decided́ to initiate the preparation of the ‘SENREM’ Natural Resource Management Project with the World Bank, building on the achievements of previous and current interventions in the fisheries sectors. Financed by the World Bank, the project is to ‘Strengthen the management of fisheries and forestry resources in targeted areas, promote targeted value chains and strengthen the management of environmental and social risks’.  It is proposed that the project be structured around 3 complementary technical components:

C1 - Institutional framework for managing environmental and social impacts and cross-sectoral strategic collaboration (fisheries, environment and forestry);

C2 - Resilience and productivity of the fisheries and aquaculture sector;

C3 - Sustainable Forest management.

Objectives:

With regard to component 2 of the project, aquaculture constitutes the 3rd sub-component ‘Support for the development of aquaculture’. To this end, it is planned to support:

• Creating conditions to make the aquaculture sub-sector attractive
• Building the technical capacity of stakeholders
• The development of aquaculture clusters through the construction or rehabilitation of key infrastructure to facilitate the development of the activity.

The planned aquaculture activities include the creation of aquaculture centres in 7 target regions, namely Saint Louis, Louga, Thiès, Fatick, Kolda, Sédhiou and Kédougou. 
At the end of the project, production is expected to increase by 4,000 tonnes and 5,000 jobs will be created in the sector. To achieve these results, technical assistance is planned for the development of aquaculture centres, and the development and implementation of an aquaculture training programme for producers.

Activities and/or Results:

• Technical assistance is provided for the efficient management and optimum operation of the aquaculture centres
• The technical capacities of the ANA to enable it to better carry out its mission of supervising the beneficiary populations and other aquaculture producers at national level are strengthened
• An aquaculture training programme for producers is developed
• Beneficiaries are trained in fry production, grow-out, farm monitoring, disease management, stock management, genetic improvement, fish nutrition and feeding, feed formulation and manufacture, marketing and product development
• Support policy makers in supporting mechanisms to develop private sector
• Elaborate the management strategy and functional mechanism for the aquaculture centers ('Aquapoles')
• Technical support to the design of the aquaculture centers