From Football To Farming: Sadio Mané Unveils $20.4m Mango Project In Senegal

Senegalese football star Sadio Mané has launched a major agro-industrial project in his hometown of Bambali, southern Senegal, committing 11.7 billion CFA francs, equivalent to about $20.4 million, to the development of the local mango industry.

The project, known as SM10 Agro, was launched on September 19 in Bambali, in the Sédhiou Region, with the initiative focused on mango production, processing and job creation. Senegal’s national broadcaster RTS reported that the project covers 500 hectares and is designed to process about 8,500 tonnes of mangoes annually.

According to Bush Radio Academy, the planned complex will include processing facilities for mango pulp, dried mango and mango butter, alongside a 500-hectare Kent mango plantation. The project is also expected to include training and research facilities as part of efforts to strengthen agricultural development in the region.

The investment is aimed at addressing some of the challenges affecting Senegal’s mango sector, particularly limited processing capacity and significant post-harvest losses. Reports indicate that the country loses an estimated 30 to 45 per cent of harvested fruit annually due to challenges involving farming practices, harvesting, transportation and insufficient processing facilities.

The project is also expected to provide a market for mangoes that cannot be exported to Europe because they fail to meet certain phytosanitary requirements, allowing more of the fruit to be processed locally rather than going to waste.

Speaking during the launch, Mané said he wanted his contribution to his hometown to extend beyond his achievements on the football pitch. He expressed a desire to support job creation and agricultural development while investing in the community where his journey began.

The SM10 Agro initiative comes as Senegal’s mango export sector records signs of recovery following previous challenges linked to fruit-fly infestations and other phytosanitary concerns. Exporters estimated that shipments of Senegalese mangoes to Europe exceeded 19,000 tonnes in 2026, compared with about 14,000 tonnes in the previous season.

The project is expected to strengthen local value addition by enabling more mangoes to be processed within the Casamance region instead of being sold solely as raw produce. With its planned processing capacity, plantation and employment opportunities, SM10 Agro represents Mané’s latest move to invest in economic activity and agricultural development in his home region.