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Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) is a staple food crop for rural households in Senegal. However, yields remain low due to reduced precipitation and low adoption of agricultural technologies. This study aims to (i) calibrate and evaluate the performance of the Agricultural-Production-System-sIMulator (APSIM)-Millet model to simulate crop phenology and grain yield, and (ii) develop regional-specific recommendations based on management scenarios for pearl millet in Senegal. The APSIM-Millet model was adjusted for early- and late-flowering landraces, with field-data from 351 locations during 2016–2021. Independent datasets were used to evaluate the agreement of crop model outcomes with (i) crop phenology (with a root mean square error, RMSE, of 2.4 days for early- flowering and 3.7 days for late-flowering landraces), and ii) grain yield (with average RMSE of 439 kg ha-1), across locations. For all Senegal millet producing districts, crop management scenarios were simulated by combining: six levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization, three plant-densities, and three planting-dates. These scenarios were compared against a literature-reported standard management. The implementation of the recommended management practices can increase farmer yields by two-fold in Senegal, mainly by increasing plant-density, N fertility, and by adjusting planting date to better match precipitation with the period of greater crop water demand. [Display omitted] • Management strategies were designed for millet productive regions in Senegal. • Recommended practices doubled millet yield relative to current farming strategies. • Recommended practices increased ∼3-fold yield/precipitation ratio. • Adjusting planting date was critical to better match water supply with crop demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br.) water-limited yield gap in Senegal is estimated at 2.2 Mg ha-1. Proper variety and management selection are critical to the sustainable intensification of millet systems. The objectives of this study were to assess the effect of two pearl millet varieties and different crop management (plant density-nutrient rates) treatments on i) biomass yield, ii) grain yield, and iii) farm profit magnitude and responsiveness. The study was conducted on three sites during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 growing seasons with a total of nine site-years. Two varieties, Souna 3 (traditional) and Thialack 2 (dual-purpose), and 48 management treatments including two plant densities (37–74 × 1000 plants ha-1) and 24 different levels of nutrient combinations ranging from 0 to 149 kg ha-1 nitrogen (N, as urea), 0–67 kg ha-1 phosphorus (P 2 O 5 , as double super phosphate), 0–33 kg ha-1 potassium (K 2 O, as potassium chloride) and 0–14 987 kg ha-1 cow manure (M), were tested in all site-years. Thialack 2 presented greater biomass yield in three and grain yield in four site-years (out of nine site-years) relative to Souna 3. Management treatments with greatest magnitude and responsiveness produced on average 4.6 Mg ha-1 biomass yield with averaged nutrient rates of 102–37–26 NPK, 2 Mg ha-1 grain yield with averaged nutrient rates of 91–32–24 NPK, 682 USD ha-1 profit at low biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 72–22–21 NPK, and 1183 USD ha-1 profit at high biomass and grain prices with averaged nutrient rates of 83–29–22 NPK, all at 74 thousand plants ha-1, regardless of variety used. Five to seven management practices were able to concurrently optimized biomass yield, grain yield, and farmer profit. Sustainably intensifying pearl millet systems by using improved variety and management practices have great potential to promote greater yields and farm profitability in Senegal. • New pearl millet varieties can be used for biomass and grain production. • Yield response and magnitude is driven by environmental conditions. • Greater plant density and nutrient application rates improve pearl millet yield. • Farm profit can be optimized with greater plant density and modest nutrient rates. • Pearl millet in Senegal has potential to be profitably intensified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global COVID-19 pandemic has produced a variety of unanticipated shocks to farming and socio-economic systems around the world. In case of Senegal, the country was already facing number of challenges at the inception of the pandemic, including high rates of poverty, prevalence of food insecurity, combined with other biophysical and socioeconomic challenges faced generally in Sub-Saharan Africa. To understand farmer perceptions of the potential impacts of COVID-19 on agricultural systems and social well-being of smallholder farmers in Senegal. Particular attention was given to potential vulnerabilities and resilience in the targeted farming systems. A survey was developed to better understand smallholder farmer perceptions regarding the anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on their agriculture practices and social well-being. The survey was administered (between June 5 and June 20) with smallholder farmers (n = 872) in 14 regions covering all agroecological zones. Variables of interest included perceptions of potential impact on farming systems, agricultural productivity, communities, economics, markets, labor, gendered division of labor, food security, and community well-being. Across the three farming systems examined (cropping, livestock, and horticulture) significant majorities expressed concerns related to access to inputs, ability to plant (cropping, horticulture), reduction of yields (cropping, horticulture), ability to feed livestock, ability to sell livestock, and the ability to hire labor (horticulture). The majority of respondents also expressed concern that COVID-19 would make it more difficult to get enough food on a regular basis for their household (82.5%); that the markets where they purchase food will either be closed or significantly disrupted (79.5%); that the price of food would increase (73.5%); and the market where they sell their produce/livestock will be either closed or significantly disrupted (73.2%). Anticipated impacts of COVID-19 on agriculture will be felt on both the biophysical aspects such as production and access to inputs and socioeconomic aspects such as access to labor, markets, or rapid shifts in demand. Results support the need to use farming systems approach to gather perceived and actual impacts of COVID-19 and warrants a more in-depth examination of agronomic and biophysical issues as well as the impact on the livelihoods and social well-being of families at community and household levels. Further examination will help identify the characteristics that strengthen smallholder farming systems resilience to adjust to anticipated and unanticipated shocks, such as COVID-19, to decrease the negative impacts and increase the rate of recovery. [Display omitted] • Farmers perceptions on impact of COVID-19 on food systems in Senegal was quantified. • Respondents included 872 farmers from 14 regions across all agroecological regions. • Inputs, planting and yields of crops, managing livestock, labor were key concerns. • Disruption and access to market for selling and purchasing food is expected. • Food availability on a regular basis for their household will be major problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]