(Ecofin Agency) - The government of Senegal will invest FCFA32 billion in the 2016-17 agricultural season. This was announced by Seydou Guèye, spokesperson of government, at the end of an inter-ministerial meeting dedicated to a review of the 2015-16 agricultural season. The government also said it would provide farmers with 20,000 harnessed units, 2,000 tractors and 75,000 tons of seedlings.

Officials intend to do better than during the last season where excellent results have been recorded. “The 2015-2016 agriculture season was excellent, as we produced a 1,670,500 tons of groundnuts. No participants contested official results published by the Ministry of Agriculture. These were confirmed by FAO which proceeds, on repeated occasions throughout the year, to an evaluation of the agricultural season. These results are proof of great performances,” said Seydou Guèye.

Going as far as talking of the rebirth of agriculture, the official also mentioned the various targets which the sector is to meet. These include better results in terms of rice production and achieving food self-sufficiency.

Aaron Akinocho