Chinese Agricultural Machinery Enters Senegal
The picture shows the agricultural machinery placed in the workshop of Senegal First Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd.
Our reporter
Lin Family Full Shot
The "Made in China" that drifts across the sea is working hard in the fields of Senegal. In early September, the reporter arrived at China Senegal First Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. located in the city of Jes. The brand new workshop was neatly arranged with various agricultural machinery, and employees from both China and Senegal were busy. Chairman Wang Lianfang told reporters that since the company started operating in 2018, sales have been increasing year by year and the results have been impressive.
The entry of Chinese agricultural machinery into the Senegal market coincides with the timing. As one of the local agricultural pillar industries, Senegal's average peanut production is over 1000 kilograms per hectare, while China's peanut production can reach 3000 kilograms per hectare to 4000 kilograms per hectare. The main reason for such a large yield gap is that Senegal's farming methods are relatively backward, the degree of mechanization is not high, the sowing area and scale are insufficient, especially a large amount of idle land is abandoned. Therefore, Chinese agricultural machinery has become the "iron arm" for local farmers to explore and increase production, and the market potential of rural areas is driving up the trend of Chinese agricultural machinery going global.
The popularity of agricultural machinery cannot be achieved without the support of one's own hard power. Since the establishment of the company, Wang Lianfang has led a team to conduct comprehensive research on the planting situation of local main crops and the actual needs of farmers. Based on the research results, targeted development and provision of marketable and comprehensive products have been carried out. At present, the company has over 50 types of agricultural machinery suitable for local use, including peanut picking machines, shelling machines, rice mills, rice combine harvesters, and agricultural tricycles, which are all popular.
In terms of brand promotion, because many rural areas in Senegal have not yet connected to the Internet, network promotion is inevitably acclimatized. Therefore, the company chose radio to promote according to local conditions, making the company's brand quickly become a "blockbuster".
The convenient and reliable after-sales service of "Made in China" has won a good reputation in the local market and brought many returning customers to the company. Market research has found that although Western countries have provided some agricultural machinery and equipment to Senegal through sales and assistance channels, their after-sales service is not sufficient, and often the agricultural machinery is paralyzed due to a lack of accessories at the end of one operation period. In response to this situation, the company has established a "family doctor style" business philosophy of selling products, after-sales service, and establishing spare parts warehouses. With three direct stores in cities such as Saint Louis, Corda, and Courak as the core, the company has expanded to other cities and established 14 distribution stores. A relatively complete regional layout has helped the company achieve full-time telephone consultation services, full-time on-site maintenance, and full-time logistics supply of accessories.
In addition, the company has also helped thousands of people solve employment and food and clothing problems. In cities far away from the capital, such as Kolda, SPEM dealerships adopt a monthly salary system of "basic salary+sales commission". Based on comprehensive calculations throughout the year, the annual income of company employees can reach over 100000 RMB, which is much higher than the salary level of other enterprises.
SPEM's exploration in promoting the development of agricultural mechanization in Senegal has effectively implemented the "the Belt and Road" initiative, and has become a folk ambassador to promote the friendship between China and Senegal. Musa Bard, Minister of Agriculture of Serbia, and Alion Saar, Minister of Tourism, have visited the company and praised its contribution to the development of agricultural mechanization in Serbia. They hope that more agricultural machinery enterprises from China can come to Serbia to develop and start businesses.
When it comes to the future development plan of the enterprise, Wang Lianfang said that she will accelerate the exploration of the integration of production and sales abroad in the future, to replace the traditional model of "domestic production and shipping, foreign assembly and sales". At present, the production workshop located in Jiesi is able to manufacture some components, and the skilled local workforce engaged in welding, assembly, and other work is also growing. The company hopes to use this to reduce transportation costs and service prices, so that the development achievements of Chinese agricultural machinery can benefit more African people.
