Senegal, Turkey partner on 500-hectare maize farm to boost local output
SENEGAL – Senegal has partnered with Turkey’s General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TIGEM) to establish a 500-hectare maize farm aimed at strengthening the country’s cereal production.
The project, announced on Friday, August 8 by Agriculture Minister Mabouba Diagne, is part of a public-private partnership to create a centre of excellence for modern farming practices and the local production of high-yield certified seeds.
Set to run over 12 months, the initiative represents a new stage in agricultural cooperation between Senegal and Turkey.
Minister Diagne said the farm will be equipped with advanced machinery and irrigation systems, serving as a model for national maize production.
“This project, which will also serve as a training farm, will teach farmers and technicians innovative and sustainable farming methods,” he noted.
The partnership comes the country sealed another deal with Belgium to boost local food production. In April, the National Fund for Agro-Sylvo-Pastoral Development (FNDASP) and the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) signed a €6.4 million (US$6.9 million) grant agreement to enhance food crop production in Senegal.
This funding, provided by the European Union, is part of the country’s broader strategy to strengthen food sovereignty and increase agricultural yields.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Livestock (MASAE), under the leadership of Dr. Alpha BA, Secretary of State for Cooperatives and Farmer Supervision, hosted the official signing of a subsidy agreement ON March 27.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, the three-year project will be implemented in the Peanut Basin, which occupies 57% of Senegal’s arable land.
Specifically, it will focus on the regions of Fatick, Kaolack, Kaffrine, and Tambacounda, benefiting 48,000 small farmers through 35 umbrella cooperatives and 750 grassroots cooperatives. The initiative targets key staple crops, including rice, sorghum, millet, maize, and cowpea.
Enabel’s country director, Abou El Mahassine Fassi-Fihri, outlined the core components of the project, which include the production of certified seeds, improving access to agricultural financing, and leveraging meteorological information in collaboration with the National Agency for Civil Aviation and Meteorology (ANACIM).
“This is a project that aims to strengthen producers, boost production, and improve agricultural yields, thereby contributing to food security. The idea is also to connect producers and processors, recycle organic waste, and employ women working in the agricultural sector,” stated Fassi-Fihri.
According to him, these efforts aim to optimize yields and improve resilience to climate variability.
Sign up to HERE receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
