This article examines the determinants of agricultural professionalization in Senegal based on an empirical study conducted in the Kédougou region, characterized by the predominance of low-intensity family farms. In this context marked by structural constraints particularly low human capital, limited market access, and still-fragile organizational structures agricultural professionalization emerges as a key lever for transforming the agricultural sector. The analysis relies on a mixed methodological approach combining descriptive statistics, the construction of an Agricultural Professionalization Index (API) using Principal Component Analysis, and econometric estimation. The data are drawn from surveys conducted among 347 producers who are members of producer organizations, complemented by interviews with institutional stakeholders. The results highlight a predominance (50%) of middle-aged producers (35-50 years), mostly male (56%), characterized by low levels of formal education (only 1% with higher education), but relatively benefiting from technical training and sustained organizational engagement (67%). Farms are predominantly small-scale (81% below 5 hectares), family-based, oriented toward cereal production, with land access largely inherited (59.9%). The findings reveal that agricultural professionalization is significantly influenced by human capital, organizational commitment, and the structural and economic characteristics of farms. They also demonstrate a strong complementarity among these dimensions, reflecting the multidimensional nature of the professionalization process. These results underscore the need to strengthen producers’ capacities, consolidate producer organizations, and improve the structural conditions of farms in order to support the sustainable transformation of Senegal’s agricultural sector.

This article analyzes Senegalese companies’ perceptions of non-tariff measures and their application in fresh fruit and vegetable trade. The methodology relies on secondary data to focus on stylized facts, and a survey of SME exporters of fresh fruit and vegetables to analyze their perceptions of the application of non-tariff measures. The survey reveals that the main products exported are mangoes, melons and beans. The main destination countries are France and Spain. The results also show that the measures that significantly affect fresh fruit and vegetable exports are, in order of importance: sanitary and phytosanitary measures, rules of origin, technical barriers to trade, pre-shipment inspection and the regime of non-automatic licensing, quotas, prohibitions, quantitative control measures and other restrictions. The main recommendations put forward for greater efficiency in the export of fresh fruit and vegetables are: improving the diversification of products marketed, improving access to legal and regulatory texts, strengthening the capacity of players in international trade techniques, circuits and mechanisms for applying non-tariff measures, organizing companies into consortia for greater efficiency in implementing measures, and improving foreign trade infrastructure and logistics to reduce trade transaction costs.

Senegal imports a large volume of potatoes, i.e. 23,452 tonnes in 2022. These imports have a negative impact on the country’s balance of trade, and reflect its low production capacity for a commodity that is in high demand on the market. Based on the premise that controlling horticultural production helps to reduce food insecurity, the aim of this research is to analyse the potato production, conservation and marketing system in the communes of Notto and Kayar. To achieve this, surveys were carried out with a sample of 150 producers in the two communes. After analysing the data, the results show that in both communes the majority of growers are men, with an essentially temporary workforce made up mostly of women. Annual potato production for most growers is less than 100 tonnes. Also, the quantity of potatoes marketed is less than 50 tonnes/year for most growers. Most customers are «bana-banas», with 97.3% and 93.2% of growers in Kayar and Notto respectively. Growers face a number of constraints, including a lack of training for some growers, problems of access to water, inputs and credit, price fluctuations and a lack of modern storage facilities.