Senegal freezes banana imports to boost local production

SENEGAL – Senegal has suspended banana imports from September 1 until further notice, a move authorities say will help local farmers secure a stronger share of the domestic market.

The Market Regulation Agency (ARM) announced the suspension in a press release, calling it an important step toward achieving fruit self-sufficiency by 2029.

ARM Director General Babacar Sembène said the measure is designed to strengthen local growers who have often struggled against competition from bananas imported mainly from Ivory Coast.

“On average, demand is 300 tonnes per day. Thanks to the monitoring system in place, we believe we can satisfy the market,” Mr. Sembène told local newspaper Le Soleil.

Senegal’s banana sector has grown rapidly in recent years. Production almost tripled from 34,500 tonnes in 2018 to over 100,000 tonnes in 2025.

The Tambacounda region accounts for 80 percent of output, supported by smaller production centers in Kolda, Sédhiou and Niandane.

Yet consumer preference often favors Ivorian bananas, which are larger, have a longer shelf life and are available year-round. Observers note that Senegalese bananas face challenges in taste and appearance, factors that have limited their appeal in city markets.

Despite this, authorities believe local farmers are ready to meet demand. Official data show that Senegal’s banana harvest reached 74,776 tonnes in 2023 and is projected at around 105,000 tonnes in 2025. This growth puts Senegal behind only Mali and Ivory Coast in the West African Monetary Union.

Investments fueling the rise

Much of this progress stems from new projects launched over the last decade. The Banana Value Chain Aggregation Project, initiated in 2021, brought together the Ministry of Agriculture, Investissement & Développement de l’Agriculture Biologique (Id Bio SA), and the Regional Collective of Banana Producers of Tambacounda (CORPROBAT).

The initiative, worth 6.7 billion CFA francs ($11.8 million), aimed to expand cultivation areas, improve marketing, and provide 8,250 producers with technical support, access to financing, and insurance systems.

According to Agriculture Minister Mabouba Diagne, these measures are starting to pay off. “If the trend continues, we will be able to cover nearly 80% of our needs by 2025, and cross the 90% mark by reducing post-harvest losses,” he said in a statement released last month.

CORPROBAT president Yaya Mamadou Sall struck an even more confident tone, saying self-sufficiency could arrive earlier than expected. “With collective mobilization of the sector’s stakeholders, self-sufficiency in bananas could be achieved as early as 2027,” he told Seneweb.

While imports once filled much of the supply gap, Senegal is seeking to cut dependence. Data from Trade Map shows the country imported 16,341 tonnes of bananas worth $6.7 million in 2024, with nearly all shipments coming from Ivory Coast.

The ARM had already tested an import freeze last year between September and December. Officials now suggest the current suspension could become a regular measure if farmers continue increasing output and if consumers show greater trust in the local product.

For Senegal’s growers, the challenge lies not only in boosting harvest volumes but also in persuading households to choose their bananas over the Ivorian competition.

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