Cover_Rebuilding West Africas Food Potential

Chapter 9. Constraints to smallholder participation in high-value agriculture in West Africa 291

Box 1. The rise of Senegal’s fruits and vegetable exports

After Senegal’s independence in the 1960s, groundnut was the dominant export crop. Yet since the

1970s, declining world demand and competition with other oilseed crops reduced the profitability of

Senegal’s traditional export sector. Although still relatively small compared to export products such as

groundnuts and fish, non-traditional export products such as fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) have

become increasingly important. In the past 10 years exports of FFV have increased from 4 800 tonnes in

1998 to almost 25 000 tonnes in 2007.

Figure 3. Value of horticulture exports from Senegal, 2000 – 2010

FFV exports also became more diversified. In 1997 more than 75 percent of FFV exports consisted of one

crop (French beans). Since the early 2000s the export of tomatoes and mangoes has also grown. The

greater majority of exported fruits and vegetables are destined for the EU market, mainly Belgium, France,

Luxembourg and the Netherlands.

Source: Maertens, Colen and Swinnen (2011)

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

20002001200220032004200520062007200820092010

Export value (1,000

USD)

Other fruits &

vegetables

Tomatoes

Mangoes

Beans