The Industries Chimiques du Sénégal (ICS) has launched the Programme des ICS pour le soutien à l’agriculture (PICSA) to support agricultural development in Senegal. The program, which began in July 2025, aims to increase the number of producers supported from 100 to 500. This will be achieved through a comprehensive approach that includes providing inputs, technical support, and improving farming practices.
According to Mama Sougoufara, the Director General of ICS, the program has already shown promising results. During the pilot phase, nearly 60 farmers were supported, and this number has now increased to 100. The goal is to quickly scale up to 500 producers. Sougoufara emphasized that ICS aims to go beyond simply providing fertilizers and instead offer comprehensive support to producers throughout their agricultural activities.
For the 2026-2027 campaign, PICSA will cover five agro-ecological zones and 11 of Senegal's 14 regions. The initial results are encouraging, with plots in Keur-Ségué, Bambey department, achieving yields of 1,800 kg/ha for peanuts and 1,750 kg/ha for millet. A seed multiplication plot for the Sunugale variety also reached 1.8 tons per hectare. ICS reports that over 80% of beneficiaries have achieved yields above the national average for the crops concerned.
The program also aims to strengthen the national seed capital. ICS plans to leverage its industrial and agronomic expertise to support producers while contributing to the reinforcement of the national seed production system and sustainable improvement of agricultural performance. This approach has been welcomed by Modou Thiam, President of the Union nationale interprofessionnelle des semences (UNIS), who advocates for the multiplication of demonstration plots.
Another significant aspect of the program is the introduction of biological fertilizers into ICS's product range. The company is currently in its second year of experimentation, in collaboration with the Institut sénégalais de recherches agricoles (ISRA). The results are considered promising, and commercialization is planned for the next agricultural campaign, complementing the NPK range.
Farmers have expressed satisfaction with the program's impact. Modou Ndiaye, a producer and seed multiplier from Keur-Ségué, reported satisfactory results and requested increased allocation of biological fertilizers. The sous-préfet of Lambaye, Mamadou Lamine Ngom, called for the program's perpetuation and the creation of cattle paths to protect crops from animal damage.
Through PICSA, ICS aims to establish an integrated agricultural support system. The extension to 500 producers, support for seed production, and diversification of fertilizers are key components of this strategy, which seeks to improve yields and food sovereignty.
Key points
- ICS aims to support 500 agricultural producers through its PICSA program.
- The program has shown encouraging results, with over 80% of beneficiaries achieving yields above the national average.
- ICS plans to introduce biological fertilizers into its product range, complementing its existing NPK offerings.
