On December 29, 2025, the religious city of Koki was the site of a historic convergence between spiritual heritage and national ambition. The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock, accompanied by his colleague Amadou Bâ, Minister of Handicrafts and Tourism, participated in the 45th annual meeting of alumni of the Koki Daara. This solemn ceremony, held in the presence of regional authorities, was marked by the signing of a strategic agreement with the Sheikh Ahmed Sakhir Lo Islamic Institute, a flagship institution that educates nearly 5,000 students.

This agreement is part of the national effort to modernize Daaras and sustainably improve their conditions of care. It follows the commitments made during National Daara Day on November 28, 2024, in partnership with the Ministry of National Education. The objective is clear: to use agriculture as a lever for empowering these traditional educational institutions.

Agriculture in the service of the autonomy of the Daaras

True to its educational mission, the Koki Institute is already undertaking significant agricultural activities, cultivating millet, peanuts, and cowpeas on several hectares to meet the needs of its community. To support this vision, the Ministry is deploying tools such as Community Agricultural Cooperatives (CACs) and Agricultural Equipment Sharing Cooperatives (CUMAs) through its Strategic Food Sovereignty Plan (PSSA).

To enable the Institute to expand its operations, the government has provided a significant donation of motorized agricultural equipment. This includes a 75-horsepower John Deere tractor, an 18-disc offset spreader, a trailer, as well as seed drills, Sine hoes, and a peanut thresher. This support will allow the Institute to increase cultivated areas, improve yields, and modernize farming practices for better nutrition for the residents.

A living legacy looking towards the future

Founded in 1939 by Serigne Ahmed Sakhir Lo, the Koki Daara is based on a philosophy of non-discriminatory teaching and training, aiming to build generations rooted in the values of Islam and useful to the nation. Beyond Quranic instruction, the Institute actively works for the inclusion of marginalized groups and the training of human resources to serve national development.

During the ceremony, the Minister of Agriculture commended the Khalif of Koki for his unwavering commitment, reaffirming the State's dedication to providing long-term support to the institution. In turn, Serigne Fallou Lo, speaking on behalf of Koki, expressed his gratitude for this inclusive and accessible initiative, emphasizing the authorities' ongoing presence in the field, serving the rural and religious communities. In Koki, agriculture is now recognized as a pillar of dignity and sovereignty for Senegal.