In a continent where agriculture remains both a critical lifeline and an underutilized opportunity, Senegal has emerged as a quiet innovator-building integrated farming communities that promise not only food security but a generational shift in rural livelihood. At the heart of this transformation lies a groundbreaking partnership: the collaboration between Green 2000, an Israeli agricultural solutions provider, and PRODAC, Senegal’s flagship initiative for rural youth empowerment and agri-development.
This alliance is more than a contract. It is a shared vision of sustainability, autonomy, and scalable impact-one that is setting a new precedent for how to modernize African agriculture in a way that is both locally driven and globally informed.
The Role of PRODAC in Reimagining Senegal’s Agricultural Landscape
Launched by the Senegalese government, PRODAC (Programme des Domaines Agricoles Communautaires) was conceived to tackle two interlinked challenges: the economic marginalization of rural youth and the country’s over-reliance on food imports. Its approach is bold, systematic, and refreshingly local: build self-sufficient, integrated farming hubs-known as DACs (Domaines Agricoles Communautaires)-where young Senegalese can farm, learn, earn, and lead.
Each DAC is far more than a plot of land. It is a complex ecosystem that includes irrigation systems, greenhouses, tractors and other mechanization tools, agricultural training centers, storage facilities, packaging units, and market access services. DACs offer young people not just jobs, but viable careers in agriculture-grounded in modern techniques and entrepreneurial mindset.
As of 2024, four DACs have been implemented through this model, located in:
- SEFA (Sédhiou)
- KMS (Louga)
- KSK (Diourbel)
- Sangalkam (Dakar)
To bring this vision to life, PRODAC needed a partner like Green 2000, with deep technical know-how and a proven track record of agricultural transformation across developing regions.
Green 2000: The Engine Behind the Sustainable Framework
For over two decades, Green 2000 has been synonymous with agronomic innovation tailored to real-world conditions. From Angola and Zambia to Equatorial Guinea and beyond, the company has implemented dozens of turnkey agricultural projects across Africa. Its methodology emphasizes practical training, low-maintenance infrastructure, climate-resilient technology, and local ownership.
In Senegal, Green 2000 was tasked with designing, constructing, and delivering fully functional DACs-customized to Senegal’s unique environmental, social, and economic realities. The scope of their contribution includes:
- Design and planning of agricultural layouts, greenhouse construction, and field cropping zones
- Deployment of drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, reducing water waste and improving yield consistency
- Solar-powered infrastructure to reduce reliance on diesel generators and ensure sustainability in off-grid areas
- Training programs for farmers, agronomists, technicians, and youth leaders in each DAC
- Development of post-harvest supply chains-cold rooms, packaging, transport units
This infrastructure is paired with a robust educational framework that focuses on capacity-building: every DAC includes a training center where participants learn best practices in crop rotation, pest management, irrigation scheduling, soil conservation, and agri-business management.
Credit: Green 2000 (Giora Perl)
What Makes the PRODAC Ecosystem Sustainable
The term “sustainability” in agriculture is often thrown around loosely, but in the PRODAC-Green 2000 model, it is applied in measurable, concrete ways:
- Environmental Sustainability
Through micro-irrigation systems and solar-powered operations, the DACs conserve water and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Local composting methods and organic soil enrichment practices are also encouraged, reducing chemical dependence.
Economic Sustainability
DAC participants are not employees-they are budding entrepreneurs. With access to land, equipment, and training, they can create micro-enterprises that feed local markets and reinvest profits into scaling their operations. - Social Sustainability
By focusing on rural youth, PRODAC prevents rural flight, strengthens community bonds, and promotes gender inclusion. Many DACs report near-equal participation between young men and women, with special support programs aimed at female farmers. - Institutional Sustainability
The DACs are co-managed by local governance structures and the national PRODAC authority, with decreasing reliance on foreign expertise over time. Green 2000’s “train the trainer” model ensures that Senegalese professionals take the reins as program stewards.
The Measurable Outcomes: Food, Jobs, and Stability
The success of the DACs can already be seen on the ground. Fields once plagued by poor productivity are now home to healthy rows of onions, tomatoes, eggplants, and more. Drip lines crisscross formerly arid land. Storage buildings and greenhouses hum with life. But the most important outcomes are human:
- Over 3,500 Senegalese youth have been directly trained or employed through the DACs
- Crop yields have increased by up to 300% in some areas, compared to traditional farming practices
- Post-harvest losses dropped by more than 60% due to storage and cold-chain improvements
- Market access has improved, with DAC-grown produce reaching urban markets in Dakar and Touba
What’s more, many DAC alumni have gone on to form cooperatives, access microcredit, and return to mentor the next cohort of participants. The ecosystem is not just functioning-it’s reproducing itself.
Green 2000’s Long-Term Commitment to Africa
For Green 2000, the work in Senegal is not an isolated case but part of a broader strategy to support agricultural transformation across Africa. The company’s leadership, including founder and CEO Rafi Dayan, sees the DAC model as a template for the future of rural development on the continent.
“Our goal is not to build dependence,” says Dayan. “It’s to create self-contained systems that local communities can manage, grow, and eventually replicate. Senegal is proving that this model works-not only technically, but economically and socially.”
Indeed, Green 2000 is already in talks with stakeholders in other countries interested in adapting the DAC model to their national contexts. Governments and NGOs from Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and even Ethiopia have sent delegations to visit the Senegalese sites and assess feasibility for local adaptation.
What Comes Next for PRODAC and Green 2000
With proof of concept established, Senegal is preparing for scaling up. The next phase of PRODAC includes expanding the number of DACs, deepening market integration for produce, and embedding more digital tools for crop monitoring and logistics management.
Green 2000, meanwhile, is committed to supporting this expansion through both technological upgrades and expanded training services. Plans are underway to:
- Introduce climate forecasting tools and AI-assisted farm management platforms
- Expand vocational training to include aquaculture and poultry farming
- Develop linkages with regional agricultural universities and research centers
This next chapter is not just about quantity-it’s about resilience. Senegal is positioning itself as a hub for climate-smart agriculture in West Africa, and Green 2000 remains a key ally in that mission.
Conclusion: A Model Worth Imitating
The partnership between Green 2000 and PRODAC is more than a story of successful project implementation-it is a blueprint for how technology, governance, education, and entrepreneurship can come together to build sustainable agricultural ecosystems. The DACs in Sédhiou, Louga, Diourbel, and Dakar are no longer experimental-they are operational, impactful, and inspiring.
As Africa grapples with food insecurity, climate stress, and youth unemployment, the Senegalese model stands out. It does not wait for handouts. It builds capacity. It dignifies agriculture. It delivers results.
And thanks to the foresight of PRODAC and the expertise of Green 2000, it may just be the future of agriculture in Africa.