Seed Extension and Rain Analysis
Organization: Peace Corps Senegal
Item: Seed Extension and Rain Analysis
Item: Seed Extension and Rain Analysis
- Rain analysis for Kanel, Senegal
- Skills: Excel, data collection
In 2019, Senegal’s rainy season started approximately a month later than usual, lasting into October with only one rainfall event measuring up to 70 mm. Rainfall occurred every week in August, with the third week having multiple days of precipitation; during most weeks, however, it rained only once. 2019 received 278.55mm of rainfall while the previous year's rainfall was 350mm.
Seed extension in northern Senegal is difficult due to inconsistent and extreme variability of the rainfall and how the rain pattern changes annually. After the first significant rain event, there was no rainfall the week after, affecting the farmers who had already seeded. Farmers largely rely on these initial rains to loosen the soil for plowing and seeding, and due to this week of dryness combined with heat, many of the sown seeds did not survive. Many farmers who waited to plant were not able to grow their crops to maturity after the rains stopped. From this rainy season only 6 weeks had a significant amount of rain that would be able to last a week. Many farmers wait to plant in the floodplain after the rainy season has ended.
Next field crop extension will focus on planting in garden spaces and areas that have access to water as well as requesting seeds for millet and peanuts. I will also introduce the technology of planting corn, bean, and squash together as a water conservation technique.
Seed extension in northern Senegal is difficult due to inconsistent and extreme variability of the rainfall and how the rain pattern changes annually. After the first significant rain event, there was no rainfall the week after, affecting the farmers who had already seeded. Farmers largely rely on these initial rains to loosen the soil for plowing and seeding, and due to this week of dryness combined with heat, many of the sown seeds did not survive. Many farmers who waited to plant were not able to grow their crops to maturity after the rains stopped. From this rainy season only 6 weeks had a significant amount of rain that would be able to last a week. Many farmers wait to plant in the floodplain after the rainy season has ended.
Next field crop extension will focus on planting in garden spaces and areas that have access to water as well as requesting seeds for millet and peanuts. I will also introduce the technology of planting corn, bean, and squash together as a water conservation technique.