Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has launched a $20.4 million agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal, as part of efforts to expand mango processing and create jobs in the region.
The project, known as SM10 Agro, was inaugurated on September 19 in Bambali, Sédhiou Region, according to Ecofin Agency.
The CFA11.7 billion facility will include a mango processing plant with an annual capacity of 8,500 tonnes. It is expected to produce mango pulp, dried mangoes and mango butter.
The project will also feature a 500-hectare plantation dedicated to Kent mangoes.
Located in Casamance, one of Senegal’s major mango-producing areas, the facility is expected to address some of the region’s limited processing capacity and reduce post-harvest losses.
Senegal loses an estimated 30 to 45 per cent of harvested fruit each year due to factors including farming and harvesting practices, transportation difficulties and inadequate processing facilities, according to Ecofin Agency.
Speaking at the launch, Mané said his ambitions extended beyond his football career.
“I don’t want to be remembered only for the goals I scored. Before the stadiums, the lights and the victories, there was, of course, Bambali. This is where my dreams began… We want to help create jobs and develop agriculture.”
The new facility is expected to enable more mangoes to be processed locally, including fruit that may not meet European Union export requirements because of phytosanitary standards.
A 2023 study by the Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale, cited by Ecofin Agency, found that mango processing facilities in Casamance were concentrated mainly in the Ziguinchor region, while Sédhiou and Kolda had fewer facilities despite producing several local mango varieties.
The study also identified limited access to packaging and labelling services as a constraint for processors in the region, with some businesses having to rely on providers in Dakar.
Mané’s investment comes as Senegal’s mango export sector continues to recover from challenges linked to fruit-fly infestations and other phytosanitary issues.
Senegal exported about 27,000 tonnes of mangoes in 2021, but volumes later fell amid problems affecting access to the European market.
Exports to Europe reportedly increased to more than 19,000 tonnes in 2026, compared with about 14,000 tonnes the previous season, following improved phytosanitary measures, including stronger efforts to control fruit flies.
