Irrigation and inequalities in the Senegal River Delta

Irrigation is considered to be one of the best solutions to fight drought spells in agriculture but also to lift farmers out of poverty through improved water provision, and thus crop yields. However, irrigated agriculture, as organized in Africa, has often generated new inequalities between farmers because of the larger areas cultivated by a minority of farmers, which allows them to earn higher incomes compared to small farmers. This study aims to provide evidence from the Senegal river delta, one of the largest irrigated rice areas in Senegal, on how inequalities have indeed increased over time.

It is based on a survey conducted among 326 households (HHs) on total land area cultivated, investment in irrigation and agricultural income. Inequalities were calculated through Lorenz curve and Gini index.

Results show the large disparities in areas cultivated by each HH. A minority cultivates more than 100 ha while the majority cultivates less than 2 ha. As a result, only some 7% of producers generate profits from irrigated agriculture, while most HHs experience net income deficits. In addition, due to difficulties in applying double-cropping of rice, especially among small farmers, inequalities remain what they are, while the hydro-agricultural developments carried out in this area were supposed to allow even three crops per year on the same plot.

As there is not enough idle land left, it is difficult to increase the areas planted by HHs. In the absence of new developments, the practice of double-cropping on existing farms, especially among small farmers, would help reduce inequalities and facilitate rice self-sufficiency, which the country has been seeking for decades.