Impact of a Four Year Food Preservation Program in Bambey Senegal

Abstract

Global food insecurity remains a persistent challenge, disproportionately affecting rural communities in developing regions in sub-Saharan Africa. In Senegal, food insecurity is exacerbated by climatic variability, economic constraints, reliance on cash crops, and governance challenges. The Bambey region, predominantly rural and agriculturally dependent, exemplifies these vulnerabilities. To address these issues, the Illuminate Project was implemented as a four year intervention aimed at enhancing food security through food preservation training. Conducted in partnership with Virginia Tech, Tennessee State University, and the University of Bambey, the program focused on empowering local women by teaching hot water bath canning techniques to preserve surplus harvests and improve year round food availability. This study examined the impact of the Illuminate Project on household food security in Bambey, Senegal. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through focus group discussions with program participants. The study examined participants' adoption and use of learned skills, identified barriers to implementation, assessed perceptions of program effectiveness and sustainability, and analyzed the program's contribution to seasonal food stability and post harvest loss reduction. Findings revealed that while participants recognized the potential benefits of canning for improving household food security, several challenges impeded widespread adoption. These included financial constraints, limited access to necessary materials, lack of historical familiarity with canning, and infrastructure limitations. Nevertheless, participants expressed strong interest in expanding the range of preserved products and identified the need for ongoing technical support and market development. The study highlights the critical importance of integrating local knowledge systems, fostering participatory approaches, and providing sustained technical and material support to ensure program effectiveness and sustainability. It underscores the necessity of culturally sensitive interventions that build local capacity and empower marginalized groups, particularly women, to enhance food security outcomes. The insights gained from this study provide valuable guidance for future food security initiatives in Senegal and similar contexts, emphasizing the potential of community driven, extension based approaches to foster resilience and improve livelihoods.