The commune of Cayar, located in the Niayes region of the Thiès department, is bearing the brunt of the harmful effects of water and soil salinization. This situation is damaging the local economy, which relies primarily on agriculture and the processing of local products, leading to a worrying decline in agricultural production. Faced with this reality, land restoration and conservation appear to be the only way to guarantee sustainable and profitable agriculture in the region.

It is in this context that the Onion Impact Cluster (ICO) project is working to provide concrete solutions by focusing on the reclamation of soils affected by salt. According to Djibril Diallo, deputy coordinator of the initiative, this project, which supports the financial independence of horticulturalists, aims to teach producers new agricultural techniques to optimize yields. The program, which has been running for three years, addresses several strategic areas such as soil fertilization, optimal irrigation management, and improving the market skills of market gardeners.

Djibril Diallo explains that the objective is to "strengthen the capacities of Cayar producers in soil, water, and irrigation management, as well as in post-harvest activities, marketing, and sales." Although Cayar is an area where the soil and water are "very saline in places," the coordinator emphasizes that the production zone maintains generally acceptable environmental conditions. He is therefore counting on the experience of local producers and increased yields to sustainably raise their incomes and ensure the survival of the horticultural sector in the Niayes region.