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Dieng Foundation demonstration farm - Senegal

Country: 

Senegal

Site type: 

Farm

Site function: 

Size:

10 ha

Elevation: 

50 m

Annual Precipitation:

450 mm

Climate:

BSh - Hot semi-arid climate

Biome: 

Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands

Bioregion: 

West African Coastal Forests & Savanna Bioregion

This part of Senegal is in the Sahel, the southern edge of the Sahara Desert. Each year the dry sands extend further into the agricultural lands.  Our task was to build water conservation and soil protection practices into the production methods. New tree crops in windbreaks and cover crops around all plantings deter erosion and reduce soil temperature. Fencing was added around the entire farm to keep out free-ranging goats. This alone had immediate benefits. An expansive caged chicken operation was shut down and the building repurposed for classrooms and offices. In 2018 we developed and delivered a farmer conference to 30 farmers and residents of Kebemer, Senegal. 


Using the farm as a model the course focused on:


  • Climate change the recent changes in land production.

  • Soil health and its response to higher temperatures.

  • Mulching practices and its effect on soil moisture

  • Cover crops and the importance of organic materials

  • Improved drip irrigation methods to conserve water

- UNITED DESIGNERS -

United Designers Int.

UNITED DESIGNERS

INTERNATIONAL

Neil Bertrando

NEIL BERTRANDO

Agro-ecology & Environmental Sciences

Daniel Halsey

DANIEL HALSEY

Founder
Head of Design
& Education

Let's talk and build a plan

for the future

Natural Capital Plant Database
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