The Minister of Agriculture, Mabouba Diagne, announced in a press release published on Friday 8 August that the Turkish General Directorate of Agricultural Enterprises (TIGEM) wants to develop an agricultural farm on an area of 500 hectares for the benefit of maize.

Senegal is undertaking the implementation of a pilot agricultural development project of 500 hectares, equipped with the latest generations of irrigation machines and infrastructures, in partnership with the Republic of Turkey.

This project is part of a public-private partnership that aims to provide the country with a center of excellence for experimenting with modern agricultural practices and the local production of certified high-yield seeds. The objective of the Senegalese authorities is to increase productivity and local maize production, which is struggling to keep up with growing demand. The work, which will last a year, marks a new stage in agricultural cooperation between Senegal and Turkey

According to the minister's press release, “this project, which is also intended to be a school farm, will train producers and technicians in innovative and sustainable agricultural techniques.”