Case study: From sand to green abundance

Discover how a female farmer transformed an arid landscape into a thriving agroforestry paradise, even during Senegal's difficult dry season. Let's explore how she manages to grow trees and vegetables in sandy soil.

It is the dry and windy season in Senegal, at one of our project sites, where the soil is the most difficult. It seems very difficult to plant and maintain vulnerable young tree seedlings in the sandy soil that resembles a desert. However, to our surprise, a villager guides us to a thriving agroforestry garden, where healthy green pepper plants thrive under the canopy of trees. Among them are local trees, including Faidherbia albida and Khaya senegalensis, as well as moringa (Moringa oleifera), often called the "miracle tree" because of its rich nutrients, and fruit trees such as papaya (Carica papaya).

The garden is managed by a group of women, one of whom is Ndeye Dabo.

Ndeye Dabo explains the importance of trees in protecting her crops from extreme heat and wind. She observes that trees create a suitable microclimate. Trees also help improve soil fertility and retain moisture. She shows us the effect of trees by pointing out how crops thrive near trees, and the impact of trees is impressive.

In addition, this agroforestry garden is intelligently managed and makes efficient use of the little water it has: Drip irrigation is combined with compost. Compost is added around the crops to preserve moisture and nourish them. In addition, a layer of mulch is added to reduce evaporation.

"If farmers don't have trees on their farms, they should plant them!" concludes Ndeye Dabo, based on her experience. But how did she manage to grow trees in these difficult conditions? She shows us her nursery on the farm.

If you want to find out more and learn how Ndeye Dabo propagates local trees on her farm, we invite you to watch our video: https://youtu.be/lPM6dKxnwyo?si=LhHlEOEMH6enW-3h