Mauritania plans 10-year rice development strategy
The agriculture ministry aims for food self-sufficiency by boosting productivity and reducing costs.
Mauritania has begun developing a 10-year national strategy for rice cultivation and food sovereignty. The initiative, a collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Coalition for African Rice Development (CARD), seeks to achieve rice self-sufficiency. The plan focuses on increasing productivity, improving quality, and lowering production costs in the Trarza, Brakna, Gorgol, and Guidimakha regions.
Ahmed Salem Ould Al-Arabi, secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, stated that rice farming is a significant economic and food sector, creating jobs and reducing reliance on imports. However, challenges such as water management, infrastructure maintenance, seed and input supply, financing, mechanization, and climate change hinder development.
The strategy will be implemented in two phases over the next decade. Officials aim to enhance the competitiveness of national rice production. The development plan addresses issues from harvest and storage to climate impacts.
Why it mattersMauritania's agriculture sector is developing a 10-year strategy to boost rice production and achieve food self-sufficiency.