Senegal’s Casamance Madd earns geographical indication recognition

SENEGAL – Senegal celebrates the recognition of Casamance madd with a Geographical Indication (GI), enhancing its market potential internationally.

Senegal has recently secured a significant milestone in its agricultural sector with the formal recognition of Casamance madd under a Geographical Indication (GI) by the African Intellectual Property Organization (OAPI).

This recognition, marked by the issuance of a registration certificate on June 25, underscores the unique quality and regional significance of the Casamance madd.

The Casamance madd, known locally as “zaban” in Bambara or Dioula, and “wèda” in Mooré, is a wild fruit derived from the saba vine of the Apocynaceae family.

Renowned for its rich content of vitamin C, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin B6, the fruit offers versatility in consumption, whether fresh or processed into various forms like juice, syrup, or preserves.

Maïmouna Sambou Diédhiou, president of the Association for the Protection and Promotion of the Madd Geographical Indication of Casamance (APPIGMAC), highlighted the fruit’s sensory appeal, “The territory of the Madd de Casamance has unique characteristics that are conducive to the creation of fruits with an intense taste with a tangy and sweet pulp, very pleasant in the mouth.”

Geographical Indications serve as robust marketing tools, promoting regional products on a global scale. In Senegal, APPIGMAC, boasting over 900 members including harvesters and processors, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding and promoting the Casamance madd GI.

The labeling process, initiated in 2022 with support from the NGO Économie territoires et développement, services (ETDS) and funding from the IG Facility of the French Development Agency (AFD), has culminated in this prestigious recognition.

Senegal’s agricultural sector holds substantial economic significance, contributing 15% to the GDP and employing approximately 22% of the country’s workforce.

According to the World Bank’s latest report, the sector experienced robust growth in 2023, with real GDP expanding by 4.3%, driven largely by increased cereal production, notably a 16% rise in total cereal output.

Beyond agriculture, Senegal’s fisheries and livestock subsectors have also demonstrated resilience and growth. Fisheries production increased by 4.5% in 2023, supported by favorable weather conditions that boosted both artisanal and industrial fishing efforts.

Similarly, the livestock sector saw a notable uptick with a 3% growth rate, attributed to governmental initiatives aimed at enhancing livestock management practices under the National Livestock Development Plan (PNDE).

With the GI status secured, the Casamance madd stands poised to capture greater market shares both domestically and internationally.

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