Senegalese football star Sadio Mané is investing CFA11.7 billion ($20.4 million) in an agro-industrial project aimed at expanding mango processing in Casamance and creating new jobs in the region.
The SM10 AGRO project will include a mango processing plant, a 500-hectare plantation and an agricultural college. The facility is set to process 8,500 tonnes of mangoes each year into mango pulp, dried fruit and mango butter.
Construction was launched on September 19 in Bambali, Mané’s hometown in the Sédhiou region. The project will also see about 78,000 mango trees planted, with the first harvest expected in three years. Around 1,000 jobs are expected to be created.
Turning Mangoes Into Higher-Value Products
The investment comes as Senegal’s mango sector continues to face major post-harvest losses. Mangoes are highly perishable, while local processing capacity remains limited.
Senegal exports tens of thousands of tonnes of fresh mangoes, mainly to European markets. However, only about 2% of the country’s mangoes are processed locally. SM10 AGRO plans to increase that share by turning more of the crop into products that can be stored longer and sold in more markets.
The company plans to supply Senegal while also targeting African, European and Middle Eastern markets.
The project could be particularly important for Casamance, Senegal’s leading mango-producing region. Existing processing facilities are concentrated mainly around Ziguinchor, while Sédhiou and Kolda remain less equipped.
A 2023 study by the Initiative Prospective Agricole et Rurale noted that some processing units face difficulties accessing packaging and labelling services locally. This forces businesses to depend on Dakar and adds to production costs.
Senegal also loses an estimated 30% to 45% of harvested fruit each year due to farming, harvesting, transport and processing challenges. The new facility could help reduce some of these losses while keeping more value within the producing region.
Building an Investment Legacy Beyond Football
For Mané, SM10 AGRO is part of a wider effort to invest in his home community and beyond football.
He has previously supported the development of a hospital, school and stadium in Bambali. He has also helped provide free internet access and regularly supported families in his hometown.
“I don’t want to be remembered only for the goals I scored,” Mané said. “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 investment also comes as Senegal’s mango export sector shows signs of recovery. Exports to Europe reportedly rose to more than 19,000 tonnes in 2026, compared with about 14,000 tonnes the previous season.
Better management of fruit fly infestations and improved phytosanitary measures have helped support the recovery.
For Senegal’s mango industry, the SM10 AGRO project brings together processing, farming, skills development and job creation. It also places a major private investment directly in a region with significant agricultural potential.
