Sadio Konte Dior, 20, on the farm the place he works outdoors of Dakar on October 4. He got here to Senegal from Mali. On these small farms simply outdoors of the capital, women and men who’ve migrated regionally develop lettuce and different greens.

Ricci Shryock for NPR

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Ricci Shryock for NPR

Sadio Konte Dior, 20, on the farm the place he works outdoors of Dakar on October 4. He got here to Senegal from Mali. On these small farms simply outdoors of the capital, women and men who’ve migrated regionally develop lettuce and different greens.

Ricci Shryock for NPR

People from throughout West Africa come to Rufisque in western Senegal to labor within the lettuce fields – planting seeds and harvesting greens.

Here, dragonflies hover over neat inexperienced rows of crops. Young subject employees collect close to a fig tree for his or her noon break as sprinklers water the fields.

The farmers on this subject may now not are likely to crops in their very own international locations. Desertification, quick or lengthy wet seasons, or salinization made it unattainable.

They come from the Gambia, Burkina Faso and Mali and are a part of the 80% of Africans who migrate internally, inside the continent, for social or financial causes.

They inform NPR concerning the push elements that made them go away their residence international locations, in addition to the pull elements in Senegal.

Listen to our full report by clicking or tapping the play button above.