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Strawberries: The New Frontier of Youth Empowerment in Senegal

Thierno Agne reinvents farming perception in a country where agriculture is often dismissed as a low-status job.

By Saikou Jammeh and Carmen Abd AliSource: nytimes.com1 min read
Strawberries: The New Frontier of Youth Empowerment in Senegal
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

Agne’s strawberry farm showcases how innovation and education can transform agriculture into a respected profession for the youth in Senegal.

In Senegal, where agriculture carries a stigma of being a laborious profession associated with poverty and lack of education, Thierno Agne is redefining the narrative. After initially pursuing a law degree, Agne shifted to agriculture, realizing the job market was saturated with legal graduates. Now, at 36, he operates one of the country’s largest strawberry farms, carving out a new identity for farming in the region.Agne’s decision to leave law shocked many, but he is determined to prove that farming is not just for the uneducated or impoverished. Instead, it requires robust knowledge, strategic thinking, and innovation akin to any modern professional field. His vibrant strawberry plants thrive just outside Dakar, showcasing the potential of advanced agricultural practices in Senegal. Thanks to Agne’s dedication, farming can now attract the educated youth, encouraging them to see it as a viable and respectable career. His success challenges long-held beliefs and promotes a future where agriculture in Senegal is synonymous with ambition and profitability, inspiring a new generation to grow their roots back home.

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