The Difference an Onion Can Make
Groundbreaking Purchase Agreement Transforms an Industry and Doubles the Income of Individual Farmers
Aboubacry Diallo, an onion farmer, has been planting and cultivating onions along the Senegal River for more than 12 years. Onions, a main ingredient in most Senegalese dishes, have been a particularly important crop in the country. When Aboubacry began farming over a decade ago, the Senegal River Valley was emerging as a major center for onion production, accounting for millions of dollars in annual revenue for Senegalese farmers. Yet, even with fertile soil, irrigation and a booming onion market, life as an onion farmer is tough. But now, as a member of the Senegalese Association of Valley Onion Producers, Aboubacry is beginning to build a better life for himself and his family.
In 2007, as part of its USDA Food for Progress program in Senegal, Counterpart International began working with farmers to improve their onion production. With Counterpart’s technical assistance, the more than 350 farmers in the association began planting a variety of onions called Violet de Galmi, which is resistant to the harsh climate conditions common to Senegal. Our program also focused on improving the quality of the onions through proper fertilization and irrigation,as well as improving the storage of the harvest. This work led to larger, more nutritious and higher quality onion crop yields—nearly 1,600MT worth an estimated $500,000USD in 2010 alone—and thus more money in the hands of the farmers.
In March 2010, with production booming and quality soaring, Counterpart helped facilitate the signing of a groundbreaking purchase agreement between the Senegalese Association of Valley Onion Producers and the Khar Yalla company’s network of 350 shops around Senegal. Khar Yalla is also the lead member of PRISTA (short for “price stabilization”), a government body, which aims to fight against inflation, shortages, price shocks and speculation on essential staples, like onions. Through the signing, Khar Yalla preordered 500MT of onions from the association, a value of $150,000USD. For the farmers, the agreement guarantees a market for a large portion of their harvest at a good price, even if the government fixes prices. And for Khar Yalla and their customers, the agreement provides a steady supply of quality, nutritious onions, also at a stable price.This purchase agreement is the first of its kind in Senegal, the significance of which was made apparent when Amadou Niang, Senegal’s Minister of Commerce, traveled to Podor to witness the signing and applaud both the association and Khar Yalla.
“Onion farmers in Podor are seeing their income double over a span of one year, thanks to our efforts in linking these farmers to a guaranteed market,” says Josephine Trenchard, Counterpart’s Country Representative in Senegal. “Equipped with improved techniques to produce quality onions and have more access to markets, onions farmers are now able to improve their livelihoods by building homes, investing in their community, providing basic needs and beyond for their family.”
Thanks to this purchase agreement and the technical assistance from Counterpart, Aboubacry will have more than $3,500USD of additional income after next season’s harvest. He intends to invest some of that money into a new company that produces animal feed. He will also buy several acres of land in the nearby village of Thille Boubacar that will allow him to plant a variety of crops and better provide for his family.
Learn more about our Food for Progress program.
September 20th, 2010 | Tags: farmers, Khar Yalla, onion, purchase agreement, Senegal, Senegal River Valley, USDA | Category:
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