Climate Change and Sustainable Intensification in Senegal: A Case Study of the organic Vegetable Farming System in the Niayes Region.

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the present production and marketing systems of vegetables production in the Niayes so as to analyze the potential of organic farming to enhance framers’ productivity and to mitigate climate change. A farm model is used to study the economic and environmental performances of the organic vegetable farming system compared to the conventional vegetable farming system in the rural community of Diender. The analysis is undertaken in two representative farms (conventional and organic). Gross margin is regarded as economic indicator while carbon emissions equivalent are regarded as environmental indicators. Moreover, risk analysis in the two farming systems are performed based on the Expected value- variance (E- V) model. This is carried out through performing Excel based and mathematical programming analyses, using data that describe a typical organic vegetable farm and a conventional vegetable farm in the Niayes. Results about the analysis of the performance of the market through marketing margins calculations show that traders are taking above 50% of the total profit margin while farmers who are doing all the work of producing vegetables and bearing the associated risks, takes less than 50% of the profit margin. This share disproportion of benefits is the reflexion of poor relationship among actors. Simulation results indicate that the conventional farming system is still economically more attractive to farmers in the Niayes compared to the organic farming system. But, environmental results in terms of GHG emissions show that the organic system is found to be less emitter and more effective in mitigating climate change. Moreover, simulation results also show that there is a “win-win” situation for conventional farmers when they go for crops that required less use of chemical fertilizers and partially adopt organic farming system. Results about risk analysis reveal that producers under both system of production are risk-averse. However, the risk attitude and management are different from one system to another.