New Holland Agriculture importer Matforce in Senegal organizes 3-day agricultural show in Dakar with the collaboration of the CIFA center for training and professional development in agriculture. Speakers at the conference on Day 1 highlight the pivotal role of mechanization in achieving self-sufficiency in rice production for Senegal. New Holland explains how it is prepared, with its broad product offering and working closely with Matforce, to support the transition to an efficient and productive agriculture.
The ‘Salon Agricole’ was held in Ndiaye, at the Centre Interprofessionnel pour la Formation aux Métiers de l’Agriculture (CIFA) in Ndiaye, Saint-Louis. The event attracted a strong participation from professional agricultural organizations, farmers, government officials and, in view of their key role in the Country’s agriculture, women’s organizations.
The first day was dedicated to a conference on the development of rice culture in the valley of the Senegal River within the framework of the national program for rice production self-sufficiency (PNAR) and the pivotal role of mechanization in achieving this objective.
The Senegal Authorities are taking strong action to develop agriculture in order to fulfill the country’s food requirements – and in particular rice – with local production. The PNAR sets an ambitious objective of achieving an annual production of 1.6 Million tons of rice by 2018, and the government is planning significant investments to support this effort. For example, it is planning an injection of 270 Billion CFA Francs in improving water management and irrigation. All speakers agreed that the objective of achieving food security and self-sufficiency is within reach, but can only be achieved through a significant mechanization of Senegal’s agriculture and the Governor of the Saint-Louis region congratulated New Holland and Matforce for their commitment to supporting the Government’s efforts to improve and increase agricultural production.
Mr. Hicham Mouktafi, Business Manager Africa, explained how New Holland’s full product line offers all the solutions needed to develop the country’s agriculture, increasing its efficiency and productivity: from simple to use and to maintain tractors for farmers just starting up on the path to mechanization to high capacity equipment for large farming operations. Participants were also able to view a selection of New Holland’s full line in the outdoor product display: a TC5000 combine harvester, the 80 and 95 hp TD Series tractors in straddle version, the 55 and 75 hp TT Series tractors, and a T6050 Series tractor. This is a representative sample of New Holland’s offering that is ideally suited to help develop agricultural production in the region.
Mr. Mamadou Sow, CEO of Matforce, completed the picture outlining the services available to support the customers in the field and announced the forthcoming opening of new premises in Saint-Louis to be closer to farmers in this region. He invited participants to bring their concerns and requests to the Matforce team during the three-day show, so they could discuss the best ways to help them make the most of the equipment. The ‘Salon Agricole’ is testament to the commitment that New Holland and its importer Matforce devote to supporting the mechanization of Senegal’s agriculture, working in concert with the Country’s Authorities and agricultural organizations. It also offered a valuable opportunity to meet with customers and resulted in a lively interest from farmers in New Holland equipment.
The speakers included Mr. Ibrahima Sakho, Governor of the Saint-Louis region, Mr. Babacar Diop, mayor of Ross Béthio, Mr. Mamadou Sow, Managing Director of Matforce, Mr. Babacar Wade representing the National Society for the Development of Agricultural Land in the Delta of the River Sénégal and the Rivers Sénégal and Falémé (SAED), Mr. Ndiawar Diop of CIFA also representing agricultural producers, and Mr. Hicham Mouktafi, Business Manager Africa for New Holland Agriculture.
New Holland Agriculture products are distributed in Senegal by Compagnie Sahélienne d’Industries
Matforce, with headquarters in Dakar.