La Laiterie du Berger innovates to better support Senegalese farmers

Last november, La Laiterie du Berger (LDB) submitted an application for the call for proposed announced by ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) "Innovative solutions for food security". The Senegalese company, specialized in the local production of dairy products, was recognized in the category "strenghtening pastoral systems".

The funding agreement (250,000 euros) will allow LDB to develop its project Valpac, consisting in enhancing the production and use of sugarcane straw. The project aims to support the activities of the farmers of North Senegal, in the region of Dagana.

The Context

The Laiterie du Berger, created in 2005,is one of the only Senegalese companies to produce dairy products from fresh local milk, collected from more than 800 breeders in the North of Senegal.

The company is established more precisely in the Richard Toll zone, in the department of Dagana. About 8,000 farmers pursue their activities in the department. Several agro-industrial enterprises have developped on the territory, co-existing with traditional pastoral systems.

Even though there is a growing demand of fodder in the dty season, most of the agricultural by-products are burned after harvest.

The Project

In view of this situation, La Laiterie du Berger has joined forces with the Senegal Sugar Company and the GRET to foster the use of sugarcane straw. The straw is used as fodder and is sold at cost price to the farmers. Since 2012, 1,200 tons of fodder have been distributed to more than 500 farmers.

ECOWAS's funding will allow LDB and its partners to purchase the material required to develop the project.

About ECOWAS

ECOWAS is a 15-member regional group with a mandate of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries. It gathers today: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo.