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.