Tag Archives: Senegal

According to allcountrylist, the economy of Senegal is divided into four main sectors: agriculture, industry, services and tourism. Agriculture is the largest sector in Senegal accounting for roughly 33% of its GDP. This includes activities related to crop production, livestock breeding, fishing and forestry. Industry is the second largest sector in Senegal accounting for around 20% of its GDP. This includes activities related to manufacturing, oil refining, chemicals production and construction materials production. Services are the third largest sector in Senegal accounting for roughly 45% of its GDP. This includes financial services, retail trade, transportation and communication services as well as health care and education services. Lastly, tourism is the fourth largest sector in Senegal accounting for around 2% of its GDP. In terms of economic growth over the past few years, Senegal has experienced a period of positive growth since 2012 with real GDP increasing by an average rate of 5-6%. This has been driven mainly by strong performance in both industry and services which have grown at rates between 4-5%, while agriculture has seen positive growth at a rate between 1-2%. Tourism has seen relatively stagnant due to weak demand from both domestic and foreign sources. Overall, these sectors have contributed positively to Senegal’s economy with strong performance in both industry and services being particularly important for driving economic growth over this period. The history of agriculture in Senegal dates back to the pre-colonial era when subsistence farming was the main form of food production. Crops such as millet, sorghum, yams, peanuts and rice were grown while livestock such as cows, sheep and goats were also raised. During the colonial period, French settlers introduced new crops and livestock breeds which allowed for increased production and exports. This resulted in a significant increase in agricultural output which helped fuel economic growth throughout the region. In the post-independence period, Senegal experienced rapid economic growth which was largely driven by its agricultural sector. In response to this, the government implemented a number of initiatives to modernize agriculture including introducing new technologies such as irrigation systems and chemical fertilizers. This allowed for an increase in crop yields which enabled farmers to produce more food for both domestic consumption and export markets. Today, Senegal is still largely reliant on its agricultural sector with most of its exports coming from food products such as millet, sorghum, yams, peanuts and rice while other crops produced include cotton, tobacco and coffee. Livestock farming is also popular with cattle being the most common type of animal reared while aquaculture is also practiced along Senegal’s extensive coastline. In recent years there has been an increased focus on organic farming which has seen an uptick in exports of organic products to other countries around the world. See collegesanduniversitiesinusa for Senegal Education and Training.