Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
Maclean et al. - 2002 - Rice almanac source book for the most important e
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SENEGAL is a West African country facing <strong>the</strong> Atlantic. It surrounds The Gambia and is<br />
bordered by Mauritania, M<strong>al</strong>i, Guinea, and Guinea Bissau, with an area of 197,000 km 2 . The<br />
country has mainly low plains, with foothills in <strong>the</strong> east. Twelve percent of <strong>the</strong> land is arable;<br />
60% of <strong>the</strong> work<strong>for</strong>ce in <strong>the</strong> population of 9.2 million (1999) is engaged in agriculture, which<br />
makes up 19% of <strong>the</strong> GDP.<br />
Gener<strong>al</strong> in<strong>for</strong>mation<br />
• GNI per capita PPP$, 2000: 1,480<br />
• Intern<strong>al</strong> renewable water re<strong>source</strong>s: 26.2<br />
km 3<br />
• Incoming water flow: 13 km 3<br />
• Main food consumed: rice, mill<strong>et</strong> and<br />
sorghum, oil and fat, wheat, sugar and honey<br />
• <strong>Rice</strong> consumption, 1999: 71.2 kg milled rice<br />
per person per year<br />
Production constraints<br />
There are sever<strong>al</strong> constraints to sustainable rice<br />
production in Seneg<strong>al</strong>:<br />
• Heat-induced sterility at <strong>the</strong> end of <strong>the</strong> offseason<br />
in irrigated areas<br />
• Cold-induced sterility in December<br />
• Shortage of water in <strong>the</strong> dry season<br />
• Poor maintenance of irrigation facilities<br />
• Cheap, low-qu<strong>al</strong>ity rice imports<br />
• Inadequate and irregular input supplies:<br />
seeds, fertilizer, and credit<br />
• Lack of sm<strong>al</strong>l farm equipment, especi<strong>al</strong>ly<br />
<strong>for</strong> postharvest operations<br />
• Comp<strong>et</strong>ition <strong>for</strong> labor by o<strong>the</strong>r production<br />
activities<br />
• Lack of a well-implemented rice policy<br />
• Weak research and extension support<br />
• Acid sulfate soils in <strong>the</strong> south (Casamance)<br />
• Periodic drought, affecting rainfed lowlands<br />
and uplands<br />
Production season<br />
Planting Harvesting<br />
Main season Jun-Jul Oct-Dec<br />
Off-season Feb-Mar Jun-Jul<br />
216 <strong>Rice</strong> <strong>al</strong>manac