Senegal targets tomato self-sufficiency with 30-hectare greenhouse project, cuts import reliance
The project began with 4 hectares and has grown to 16 hectares today, with 30 hectares planned by the end of 2026.
SENEGAL – Senegal’s 30-hectare greenhouse project has reached sufficient tomato volumes to cover domestic market needs, reducing reliance on imports just 18 months after supply disruptions from Morocco in 2023.
Senegal is rapidly transitioning toward tomato self-sufficiency through a strategic greenhouse farming initiative launched by agricultural company Gade Gui.
The project was established following supply disruptions from Morocco in 2023, and eighteen months later, the company has reached sufficient volumes to cover domestic market needs.
Founder Mabouba Diagne explained the market gap. “We only needed 3,000 tonnes of tomatoes per year to free ourselves from imports. What was needed was to complement open-field cultivation with off-season production under greenhouses, aimed particularly at the retail segment. That represents 30 hectares under greenhouses.”
The project began with 4 hectares and has grown to 16 hectares today, with 30 hectares planned by the end of 2026. Current production comprises 90% round tomatoes and 10% segmented varieties. The project currently produces 28 tonnes per week, with projections of 57 tonnes per week by the end of 2026.
The greenhouse model reduces risks by enabling year-round production independent of seasonal rainfall, protecting crops from weather volatility, and ensuring a consistent supply for retail partners.
The project has been carried out with 100% Moroccan expertise, drawing on the success of horticultural production in the Souss Massa region. Production costs in Senegal are 25% below those in Morocco, thanks to lower labour costs and sufficient freshwater availability.
In addition, phytosanitary conditions are favourable, with no mildew or Tomato brown rugose fruit virus detected.
This economic partnership could impact regional food trade by positioning Senegal as a net exporter rather than importer, potentially reshaping West African tomato trade flows.
Even better, the initiative also involves knowledge transfer through hosting young students from horticultural institutes and training technicians from other companies.
Diagne noted that the project is economically viable even at 30 hectares. The initiative demonstrates how strategic greenhouse investment can achieve food security and economic independence within West Africa’s produce industry.
The project has been well received commercially, with contracts signed with 51 retail outlets. Production conditions are favourable, with no mildew or ToBRFV, and pests remain under control with appropriate treatments.
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