Agricultural activity shapes the mobility patterns in Senegal

The communication and migration patterns of a country are shaped by its socioeconomic processes. The economy of Senegal is predominantly rural, as agriculture employs over 70% of the labor force. In this work, we have used mobile phone records to explore the impact of agricultural activity on the mobility patterns of the inhabitants of Senegal. We have detected an increase in the migration flows throughout the country during the harvest season. At the same time, religious holidays also shape the mobility patterns of the Senegalese people, since, as in many cultures, they are related to climate seasons and agricultural activities. Hence, in the light of our results, agricultural activity and religious holidays are the primary drivers of mobility inside the country.