In a region where smallholder plots and traditional farming once dominated, a groundbreaking partnership between Senegal’s national agricultural reform program and an Israeli agritech pioneer is redefining what’s possible. Through the strategic collaboration of PRODAC (Programme des Domaines Agricoles Communautaires) and Green 2000, Senegal has built a model of scalable, community-focused agriculture-one that is now inspiring replication across West Africa.
PRODAC’s Ambitious Framework for Community Agricultural Domains
Senegal’s PRODAC initiative was launched to address three interlinked challenges: chronic youth unemployment, underutilized arable land, and heavy reliance on food imports. The program’s solution was the creation of Community Agricultural Domains (DACs)-integrated rural hubs where infrastructure, training, production, and market access come together under one roof.
Rather than scattered pilot projects, PRODAC envisioned four core DAC sites spread across diverse agro-ecological zones:
- SEFA (Sédhiou) in the Casamance region, rich in water resources and tropical soils
- KMS (Keur Momar Sarr, Louga) on the semi-arid plains north of Dakar
- KSK (Keur Samba Kane, Diourbel) in central Senegal, known for peanut and millet cultivation
- Sangalkam (Dakar) on the outskirts of the capital, bridging urban demand with peri-urban supply
Each DAC was designed to serve hundreds of young farmers, providing them with plots of land, mechanized equipment, irrigation, and a dedicated training center. But building bricks, pumps, and classrooms only scratches the surface. The DACs’ true promise lay in their scalability-their ability to expand and adapt as more communities joined, and as new sites came online.
The Role of Green 2000 in Delivering Turnkey Solutions
Green 2000, an Israeli agricultural development firm with over two decades of experience across Africa, brought the missing link: a turnkey Agricultural Services and Training Center (ASTC) model proven in Angola, Nigeria, Zambia, and beyond. Rather than relying on piecemeal interventions, Green 2000 provided a fully integrated package that included:
- Design and construction of greenhouses, net houses, processing units, and storage facilities
- Deployment of drip irrigation and solar-powered pumps to maximize water efficiency
- Introduction of mechanization-tractors, seeders, post-harvest handling equipment-tailored for smallholder cooperatives
- Installation of agro-meteorological stations for real-time monitoring of weather and soil conditions
- Implementation of digital tools: farm management software, mobile advisory apps, and data dashboards
Under Green 2000’s guidance, each DAC became more than a farm; it became a center of excellence, where technology, training, and entrepreneurship coalesced.
Building Local Capacity for Scalable Impact
A scalable model requires local ownership. From day one, Green 2000 emphasized capacity building:
- Train-the-trainer programs empowered Senegalese agronomists and technicians to lead local workshops
- Youth leadership academies equipped participants with business management, cooperative governance, and financial literacy skills
- Partnerships with local universities ensured continuous research support and talent pipelines
By the time the first DAC reached full operation, its management team was 100% Senegalese. This graduated autonomy ensures that each new site can be stood up more rapidly, with lessons learned and local leaders ready to replicate success.
PRODAC’s DACs as Catalysts for Rural Economies
Each DAC’s footprint extends far beyond its gates. Consider SEFA in Sédhiou: what began as a 50-hectare pilot greenhouse project has blossomed into a network of small enterprises supplying vegetables, fruits, and pulses to local markets and Dakar’s urban centers. Local transporters, packaging cooperatives, and input suppliers have all emerged to support production-creating a self-reinforcing rural economy.
Similar transformations are under way at KMS in Louga, where livestock integration and field crops now feed agro-processing units; at KSK in Diourbel, where millet and peanut byproducts fuel value-added food production; and at Sangalkam outside Dakar, where peri-urban vegetable hubs cater directly to the capital’s hotels and restaurants.
These DACs demonstrate how PRODAC’s framework-and Green 2000’s technology-scales not just in hectares, but in economic complexity. Each site supports dozens of micro-enterprises, hundreds of jobs, and thousands of consumers.
The Technology That Powers Scalability
At the heart of every DAC lies a suite of innovation-driven technologies that ensure scalability:
- Modular Greenhouse Kits
Prefabricated greenhouse structures can be expanded easily in 500-square-meter increments. This modularity means a DAC can start small and grow as finances, labor, and demand permit. - Smart Irrigation Networks
Solar pumps feed drip systems controlled by sensors that measure soil moisture, minimizing water use and enabling precision farming across varied microclimates. - Digital Farm Management Platforms
Satellite-linked dashboards track progress across all DACs, allow agronomists to troubleshoot remotely, and facilitate data-driven decision-making for planting schedules and market timing. - Portable Post-Harvest Units
Mobile cold storage trailers and sorting lines can be deployed to new DACs immediately, reducing post-harvest losses and guaranteeing quality for urban buyers. - Renewable Energy Integration
Solar arrays provide reliable power for lighting, machinery, and digital systems-crucial for off-grid sites and reducing ongoing operational costs.
By standardizing these technological building blocks, Green 2000 has enabled PRODAC to replicate success site after site without reinventing the wheel-an essential feature for scaling across a country the size of Senegal.
Measuring Success: Outcomes and Expansion
The proof, as always, lies in outcomes. Within two growing seasons, DACs powered by PRODAC and Green 2000 have achieved:
- Yield increases of 200-400% for key crops (tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens) compared to regional averages
- Reduction in post-harvest losses by over 60% through improved storage and handling
- Employment generation: over 1,200 direct jobs created across four sites, plus an estimated 3,000 indirect roles in allied sectors
- Youth entrepreneurship: more than 800 DAC participants have launched independent agribusinesses or cooperative ventures
- Gender inclusion: women account for nearly 45% of DAC leadership roles, driving inclusive growth
Buoyed by these results, the Senegalese government is planning to double the number of DACs in the next five years-moving from four flagship sites to more than a dozen, reaching every region of the country.
Regional Replication: A West African Standard
News of PRODAC’s success has spread beyond Senegal’s borders. Delegations from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali have visited DACs to learn how the PRODAC-Green 2000 model can be adapted locally. The African Development Bank and ECOWAS have both signaled support for regional scaling of similar community agricultural domains, using Senegal’s experience as a blueprint.
What once was a pilot experiment is becoming a West African standard-a model that meshes local ownership, youth empowerment, and proven technologies to create scalable, resilient agriculture.
Long-Term Sustainability: Ensuring DACs Thrive
Scaling is only part of the equation; sustainability is equally vital. Green 2000 and PRODAC have embedded features to ensure DACs remain robust:
- Local Cooperative Ownership: After initial setup, DAC management transfers to farmer cooperatives, backed by alumni networks and local credit unions.
- Revenue Reinvestment: Profits from production and training fees are reinvested into maintenance, expansion, and scholarship funds for new trainees.
- Continuous Innovation: Ongoing R&D partnerships with ISRA (Senegalese agricultural research institute) and Israeli universities keep DACs on the cutting edge.
- Environmental Stewardship: Soil conservation, agroforestry, and integrated pest management practices are standard, ensuring ecologically sound growth.
These elements lay the foundation for DACs that can endure economic cycles, climate variability, and changing market demands.
A Vision Realized, A Future Secured
By weaving together PRODAC’s strategic ambition with Green 2000’s technological expertise, Senegal has created a replicable, scalable framework for rural development-one that works at the intersection of technology, training, and community. The DACs stand as living proof that with the right combination of vision and execution, agriculture can be both a source of prosperity for youth and a pillar of national food security.
As West Africa faces an uncertain future-marked by climate pressures, demographic shifts, and evolving markets-the PRODAC-Green 2000 model offers a blueprint for inclusive growth. It demonstrates that investment in technology and people, guided by proven systems and local leadership, can yield transformative results.
In the fields of Sédhiou, Louga, Diourbel, and Dakar, the seeds of innovation you see today will feed communities for generations. And as Senegal’s story unfolds, it lights the way for the entire region-proving that when nations bridge continents through partnership, the harvest is truly bountiful.
