2023 Annual Report: Feed the Future Senegal DUNDËL SUUF Project

The project focuses on enhancing growth through regional agricultural input systems, with a specific emphasis on fertilizer use and management. The project operates under the Feed the Future initiative, which is a global effort to reduce hunger and poverty by improving agricultural productivity and promoting economic growth. The project's main objective is to improve fertilizer use and management practices among smallholder farmers in Senegal. To achieve this goal, the project has established a number of intermediate results, including the development and dissemination of improved fertilizer formulas, the promotion of environmentally sound fertilizer products and technologies, and the improvement of fertilizer policy and regulatory environments. One of the key achievements of the project is the development of improved fertilizer formulas that are tailored to the specific needs of smallholder farmers in Senegal. These formulas are based on soil profiles and the needs of developed crops, and have been shown to improve crop yields and reduce fertilizer use. The project has also promoted the use of environmentally sound fertilizer products and technologies, such as microdosing and urea deep placement, which have been shown to reduce fertilizer use and improve soil health. The project has also made significant progress in improving fertilizer policy and regulatory environments. This has involved working with government agencies and other stakeholders to develop and implement policies and regulations that support the use of improved fertilizer practices. The project has also promoted the use of fertilizer recommendations and maps, such as the Fertilizer and Seed Recommendations for West Africa Map, to help farmers make informed decisions about fertilizer use. In addition to its focus on fertilizer use and management, the project has also placed a strong emphasis on cross-cutting activities, including gender, youth, communication, and environmental mitigation and monitoring. The project has worked to increase the participation of women and youth in project activities, and has promoted the use of environmentally sound practices and technologies. The project has also made significant progress in terms of management and coordination. The project has established a strong management structure, with a regional activity manager and a team of local implementing partners. The project has also established a number of committees and working groups to support project implementation and coordination. Despite these achievements, the project has also faced a number of challenges. These have included difficulties in accessing certain areas of the country, as well as challenges related to the availability and quality of fertilizer products and technologies. The project has also faced challenges related to the implementation of policies and regulations that support the use of improved fertilizer practices. Overall, the Feed the Future Senegal DUNDËL SUUF Project has made significant progress in improving fertilizer use and management practices among smallholder farmers in Senegal. The project's focus on cross-cutting activities, such as gender, youth, and environmental mitigation and monitoring, has also helped to promote more sustainable and equitable agricultural development.