What if 2025 were the year of all agricultural records? This is the conviction shared by Dr. Mabouba Diagne. The Minister of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty, and Livestock began a monitoring tour of the 2024-2025 campaign on October 24.

This Sunday, October 26, it was Tambacounda's turn to welcome the very large delegation from the ministry, composed of attached directorates and programs as well as its technical and financial partners. In Bantancoli, in the Dialocoto department, the visit began in a cotton field run by Moro Sadiakhou. Despite his advanced age, 72, he manages a 50-hectare plot on which are grown: cotton, corn, peanuts, and cowpeas. And since agriculture and livestock go hand in hand, he owns a herd of 15 goats, 20 poultry, and 37 cattle. But the septuagenarian's flagship product is "white gold," which he cultivates on 6.25 hectares and whose expected production this year is 10.2 tons, or a yield of 2 tons per hectare.

"Program contract", the minister wants a concrete commitment from producers

Delighted by this production and the efforts of its owner, Minister Mabouba Diagne expressed his admiration for the cotton grower and promised to reiterate his commitment to the sector: "May God help you produce more and may this success be shared by all cotton producers in the area. We have a budget of 120 billion, results have been achieved and the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister have added 10 billion. Pray for me so that we can increase this budget slightly. This way, we can accelerate mechanization." He also hopes for the development of a "program contract" between his ministry and the producers. "Ask me to bring you tractors and cultivators to get started. Once you have everything, we could introduce a small tax on cotton sellers that would allow for the drilling of boreholes." A visit that makes one happy and suggests better days. Moro Sadiakhou reveals his ambitions: "We, the cotton producers, are very happy and reassured following your visit here. We are convinced that this will move things forward. Because, with your support, we will be able to increase yield, production and productivity."

Tambacounda: 5,000 hectares of unexploited lowlands

Still in the commune of Dialocoto, Dr. Mabouba Diagne met with women rice farmers in the village that bears the same name as the commune. In Tambacounda, 5,000 hectares of lowlands remain unexploited, and only 27% of arable land has been taken up. "I said earlier that we will need 1.4 million tons of rice to hope to be self-sufficient in rice. We must imperatively start by developing 100,000 hectares with the objective of going beyond that. But we must manage water in such a way that we have at least one season and one off-season and engage in short-cycle farming. This will allow women, farmers, livestock breeders, and young people to cultivate 12 months out of 12," the minister said, believing that without this, achieving self-sufficiency in rice will remain a utopia. Mayor of the commune, Bafodé Dramé, thanked the minister for his visit and revealed that it was the first time he had seen a combine harvester in his area. He owed the salute to the Directorate for the Modernization of Rural Equipment (DMER).

Yellitaare Group, the Senegalese banana king aiming for self-sufficiency

A modern plantation stretching as far as the eye can see. On these lands, an irrigation system stretching for several kilometers can be seen on the ground. Thanks to a sprinkler system, the thousands of banana trees in this area benefit from constant humidity favorable to their growth. We are in Laboya-Hourekounkoung, an 800-hectare estate belonging to the renowned Yellitaare group, which has been established there since 2000. In addition to bananas, corn and onions are also produced. But it is the banana crop that distinguishes this company, with its production unit employing nearly 800 people. Upon his arrival, the minister was welcomed by the owner, El Hadji Mamadou Omar Sall. He then handed over to his son, Yaya Mamadou Sall, who gave a guided tour of the factory, where he presented the entire production chain after the harvest. "This is the first time in Senegal's history that we have been able to achieve a production of more than 100,000 tons. Last year, it was 72,000 tons and this year we are talking about 112,500 tons, a jump of more than 40%," explained Yaya Mamadou Sall. "You are an example for all Senegalese and for all of Africa," the Minister of Agriculture told El Hadj Mamadou Omar Sall. For Dr. Mabouba Diagne, this increase in production is also, in part, the result of the authorities' efforts, particularly with the "record" distribution of agricultural inputs with 105,000 tons of NPK and 120,000 tons of urea, all without taking into account the horticultural campaign. "This means that there is hope for Senegalese agriculture." "Of the ten or so crops we import, of five crops, we are breaking the record of the last 10 years. There is hope," declared the minister. Taking advantage of the occasion, Dr. Mabouba Diagne launched an appeal to Yellitaare but also to the entire banana industry: "The Senegalese have said that bananas are expensive. Fight to bring them down," he said. The day concluded at the governance where a distribution of agricultural equipment and machinery took place.