Senegal

A

Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing

Agriculture occupies about 77 per cent of the economically active population; about 12.8 per cent of the land area is arable. Senegal is among the world’s largest producers of peanuts, grown in many areas, especially in the sandy soils of the north-west. Peanuts and peanut oil provide a significant share of yearly export earnings. Attempts are being made to diversify agriculture, including the expansion of rice and tomato cultivation. Annual production in 1998 included some 460,481 tonnes of peanuts , 494,345 tonnes of millet, 190,493 tonnes of paddy rice, and 121,003 tonnes of sorghum. Livestock in 2006 included 3.14 million cattle, 5 million sheep, 4.26 million goats, and 517,536 horses.

Roundwood production in 2006 amounted to about 6.10 million cu m (215 million cu ft) annually. Senegal’s coastal waters are rich in fish, and the country has a modern fishing fleet. Annual landings in 2005 included 405,264 tonnes of seafish (mainly sardine) and freshwater fish. There are problems of overfishing in local waters by foreign fleets.

B

Mining

Phosphates are the leading mineral product of Senegal. In 2004 annual output totalled about 0.58 million tonnes. A petroleum refinery at Dakar with an annual capacity of 900,000 tonnes makes use of imported oil.

C

Manufacturing

Other manufactured goods include food products, such as peanut oil, refined sugar, canned fish, and flour; cement; shoes; textiles; artificial fertilizers; chemicals; construction materials; and tobacco products.

D

Tourism

The government of Senegal has encouraged tourism, and during the 1970s tourist facilities were greatly expanded. Among the country’s attractions are its fine beaches and national parks, which include a wild game reserve. In 1997 receipts from tourism amounted to US$77 million.

E

Energy

In 2003 Senegal’s electricity-generating facilities produced 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. All electricity is thermally generated.