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Upon their arrival, the council members were welcomed by the SIFA Director, who provided a detailed presentation of the results achieved so far and the outlook for the coming years. Emphasis was placed on the successes of the young trainees on the site, who are now adopting environmentally friendly and sustainable agricultural practices. The president of the farmers' organization, a key project partner, also spoke to highlight SIFA's positive impact on the community and the strengthening of local agricultural resilience.
The delegation then took a guided tour of the site, during which they were able to interact directly with trainers and trainees. These interactions allowed council members to better understand how the trainees plan to put their new skills into practice and contribute to the development of agroecology in the region.
"Thanks to SIFA, I feel ready to develop my own business and apply the methods I’ve learned here," said Fatmata Tounkara, a current trainee.
The delegation also met with former SIFA trainees who now manage their own farms and play a key role in the local economy. "Today, I am self-sufficient thanks to the skills I acquired at SIFA," shared Gnagna Diouf, a former trainee who has started her own broiler chicken business.
During the visit, the Mayor of Marsassoum expressed his gratitude to LED and congratulated all stakeholders for their efforts and successes during the first phase of the project. "We are grateful to the LED for its commitment and ongoing support to our community. This first phase has achieved significant progress for our youth and for the sustainable development of our agriculture. We congratulate SIFA, its trainers, and everyone who contributed to this success, and we look forward to seeing the new opportunities that this second phase will bring," the Mayor said.
This visit was followed, a few days later, by the launch of the project’s second phase. With this new stage, the LED reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovative and sustainable farming practices, equipping SIFA-trained youth and local small-scale producers with the skills needed to address today’s agricultural challenges.
For the LED, the SIFA represents a crucial strategic lever to strengthen young people's skills in agroecology and to drive innovation in Senegal’s agricultural sector. This initiative, rooted in a vision of sustainability and innovation, contributes to youth empowerment and rural development.
" The SIFAs address an important bottleneck for the socio-economic integration of young people and the sustainable intensification of market-orientated agriculture. With their focus on imparting knowledge to young people and supporting them in setting up their own agricultural activities, they complement our Senegalese portfolio and boost income-generating opportunities for rural youth," concluded Doris Beck.