Solar grain mill in Sererland
Work and income-generating project in Senegal - A solar grain mill in Sererland
Foua-Mbegnare is a village in Senegal, 115 km from Dakar. The village is part of a village community belonging to the Serer tribe, there are 7 other similar villages in the area within visible - easy walking distance, with 20-30 families per village (300-500 people; the Serer do not count themselves, as they consider this a bad omen). There is no electricity or drinking water in the villages, there are drilled wells that dry up in the dry season. The only source of income is agriculture and horticulture, there are no other job opportunities. They grow peanuts, millet, sorghum, corn, vegetables (tomatoes, beets, onions, eggplant, beans) and hibiscus, the raw material of the popular local drink, bissap. With the exception of hibiscus and hazelnuts, their produce just makes them self-sufficient. Young people migrate to Dakar or abroad due to lack of work and income.
The idea of the grain mill was developed in cooperation with the local women's community, which serves the surrounding villages all year round and thanks to the road, grain can be brought here to be ground from further away. The mill generates income for the community, from which they can not only store the hibiscus and sell it later at a better price, but from the income they can buy and raise chickens and buy hens and produce eggs.
The land needed for the mill was provided free of charge for the project by the leaders of the community at a designated area on the border of the village. The grinder is powered by a solar system, which is a sustainable, environmentally friendly technology. The company supplying the machines delivered the machines to the site, set them up and trained the locals in their use.
The project was realized with the financial support of the US Embassy in Dakar.