Under the surface: research identifies 20,700 hectares that can produce crops in Senegal

In Senegal, water from the rainy season doesn’t fully disappear—it seeps into the clay-sandy soils of the lowlands in Sédhiou and Tambacounda, creating a hidden reservoir still largely untapped. As part of the AVENIR project, researchers from the Alliance Bioversity International & CIAT—led by Dr. Issa Ouédraogo, with Wilson Nguru, Wuletawu Abera, Christine Chege, Babacar Kane, Katiana Bougouma and Caroline Mwongera—analyzed nine years of Landsat images cross-referenced with soil and crop data. Their work identified 20,700 hectares ideally suited for Flood Residual Water Cultivation (FRWC), a low-cost, resource-smart approach that extends the growing season, boosts rural incomes, and enhances climate resilience.