Perhaps you have never heard of this country and have no idea why Senegal is called a peanut republic, but the word "Dakar" is probably on your hearing. The famous Paris-Dakar rally for 30 years has started or finished in the capital, near the famous Rose Lake.
Senegal is a small African state located in the very west of the mainland, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Tours to Senegal are quite popular among tourists from European countries who come here for a safari or for great fishing.
Senegal has many tourist highlights. In the delta of the Salum River, you can admire the thickets of mangrove, see animals disappearing from the face of the planet. In the Bundia nature reserve, tourists are shown a giant baobab, which for centuries has been an unusual cemetery. According to tradition, it is inside the baobabs that the Griots are buried (this is a special caste of musicians, singers and storytellers from one of the African peoples). The Senegal River is very picturesque with the city of Saint Louis, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. However, the state is not called the country of baobabs or the Griot region.
Answering the question of why Senegal is called the Peanut Republic is both simple and difficult. The state gained independence only in 1960. At the dawn of its existence, in the 70s of the last century, the country was a leader in the production of peanuts. Today the situation has changed, but the name has remained.
Scientists consider South America to be the homeland of peanuts . Portuguese were brought to Africa by the Portuguese, who arrived in the region in the 15th century. The plant took root perfectly, as it was undemanding to the quality of the soil (even enriched it with nitrogen). The climatic conditions made it possible to grow nuts almost all year round.
At the beginning of the twentieth century, 90% of the countries of the African continent turned into European colonies. At the same time, areas specializing in specific crops were identified. Senegal “got” peanuts. The country today remains an agrarian state: more than 70% of able-bodied Senegalese people are employed in this sector. Almost half of the cultivated land is occupied by peanuts. Walnut is the main export item (about 11% of the total volume of exported goods). So it’s clear why Senegal is called the Peanut Republic.
On the other hand, the state receives more income from tourism, fish and phosphate rock exports. And although peanuts are still an important article of the country's economy (provides employment for the population), in recent years its production has been declining. The profitability of this industry is closely related to weather conditions. In addition, the state set fixed prices for peanuts that are disadvantageous to traders. They prefer to either hold the product or sell it to Chinese resellers.
In 2012, Senegal's share in world exports of peanuts amounted to less than 2% (this is the 8th place in the world). The main exporter of peanuts today is China, which accounts for more than 45% of the fruit. So it’s not entirely clear why Senegal is called the Peanut Republic in our time.
Well, maybe after some time a new poetic name will come up for the country, for example, “mangrove republic” or “football power” (if Senegal’s athletes do not just reach the quarter finals in the 2014 World Cup, as in 2002, but will be able to win the final).