The Senegalese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Equipment expects a cereal production of 3,811,894 tons for the 2020-2021 agricultural campaign, an increase of 38% compared to the previous year, revealed Wednesday evening to Dakar, the Director of Analysis, Forecasting and Agricultural Statistics (DAPSA), Doctor Ibrahima Mendy.

"For the 2020-2021 agricultural campaign, the forecast cereal production is estimated at 3,811,894 tonnes, an increase of 38% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 54% compared to the average of the last five years", he notably indicated to the APS.

According to him, this year rice production is expected to be 1,451,840 tons, an increase of 26% compared to the 2019-2020 agricultural campaign and an increase of 40% compared to the average of the last five years.

"The production of millet is 1,197,406 tons, an increase of 48% compared to the 2019-2020 campaign and an increase of 50% compared to the average of the last five years where the production of Sorghum is 388,979 tonnes, an increase of 44% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 69% compared to the average of the last five years", he assured.

"Fonio production is 6,878 tonnes, an increase of 34% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 76% compared to the average of the last 5 years, while that of corn is 766,791 tonnes, an increase of 44% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 85% compared to the average of the last five years", maintained Doctor Ibrahima Mendy.

He revealed that groundnut production is 1,826,590 tonnes, up 29% from 2019-2020 and 43% from the average of the past five years.

Doctor Mendy also said that cowpea production is 268,197 tons, an increase of 46% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 113% compared to the average of the last 5 years while that of sesame is 35 572 tonnes, an increase of 46% compared to the 2019/2020 campaign and an increase of 133% compared to the average of the last five years.

He indicated that cotton production is 19,000 tons, an increase of 15% compared to 2019/2020 and an increase of 9% compared to the average of the last 5 years and that of cassava is 1,352,978 tons or an increase of 31% compared to 2019/2020 and an increase of 71% compared to the average of the last five years.

“Watermelon production is 1,766,805 tonnes, an increase of 48% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 137% compared to the average of the last five years, while horticultural production is 1,475,374 tonnes or a decrease of 10% compared to 2019-2020 and an increase of 5.1%”, he specified.