Senegal Agricultural Risk Profile

Agricultural risks are uncertain events that cause significant financial loss or other adverse outcomes to farmers. Using high-level quantitative analysis of selected risks, this country-risk brief highlights the contribution of agriculture to the Senegalese economy, how the sector has grown between 1990 and 2013, the major agricultural products, and how vulnerable people are to risks. It also provides background information on the various forms of risks including production, market, and macro level risks.

In terms of both frequency and severity, the analysis from the brief suggests that production risks outweigh output price risks, with erratic rainfall, livestock diseases, and illicit fishing being considered as main agricultural concerns in Senegal. As annual national averages are used, the brief does not present local and seasonal observations. The scope of the analysis is also limited by the lack of output data for livestock products. Price data for commodities was also obtained for only the period between 1991 and 2011.