Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has invested CFA11.7bn ($20.4m) in an agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal, to boost mango processing and create jobs.
The project, called SM10 Agro, was launched on September 19 in Bambali, Sédhiou Region, Ecofin Agency reported.
The facility will have a processing plant capable of handling 8,500 tonnes of mangoes yearly and producing mango pulp, dried fruit and mango butter. It will also feature a 500-hectare Kent mango plantation.
The project is located in Casamance, Senegal’s main mango-producing region, where poor processing capacity has led to major post-harvest losses.
Senegal loses an estimated 30 to 45 per cent of harvested fruit each year due to poor farming methods, harvesting and transport problems, and limited processing facilities.
Speaking at the launch, Mané said he wanted to be remembered for more than football.
“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,” Mane was quoted as saying.
The investment comes as Senegal’s mango exports recover from fruit-fly infestations and other phytosanitary challenges. Exports to Europe reportedly increased to more than 19,000 tonnes in 2026 from about 14,000 tonnes the previous season.
