In a bid to increase food productivity in Senegal, researchers at the Centre for Ecological Monitoring (Centre de Suivi Ecologique, CSE), Dakar, have contacted the Pakistani Inter-Islamic Network on Space Sciences and Technology (ISNET) as it intends to utilise space technology to improve on its strategy so far.

Space technology will make collation of the nation’s meteorological data fast and easy, with remote satellites the information will be gathered and exploited for the evaluation of agro-meteorological data of lands and soils, meteorological forecasting, natural disaster preparedness, accurate agriculture, crop control and water availability.

According to CSE director-general,  Aziz Touré, Senegal’s increased population calls for simultaneous increase in food demand, threatening food security and increasing dependence on food imports.

Senegal adopted a food import policy to solve its food insecurity which is now threatened by climate change. Last month, excessive heat and an unprecedented drought ravaged the Corn Belt in the U.S., escalating rising food prices.

According to Scidev.Net, Ismaila Diop, the principal private secretary at Senegal’s Environment Ministry, said: “The collaboration between the Senegalese experts and those of the ISNET network allows us to find solutions to climate change [impacts on] agricultural development and food stability in Africa.” He continued: “food security is an urgent issue for African leaders.”

President of the Senegalese Red Cross, Abdoul Aziz Diallo said Senegal is one of the countries within the Sahel region, affected most by food insecurity. “Some 800,000 people are affected by food insecurity,” he said.