Mauritania to leverage Egypt’s expertise in cereal crop development
The primary objectives include elevating the productivity of key crops such as rice, wheat, and corn, as well as engineering new varieties tailored to Mauritania‘s specific environments.
MAURITANIA – Mauritania plans to leverage Egypt’s expertise in cereal crop development to enhance its agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on imports.
This strategic initiative was underscored on October 14 when Sidi Ahmed Ould Abah, Mauritania’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, met with his Egyptian counterpart, Alaa Farouk, marking a key advancement in regional food security efforts.
According to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, the discussions centered on fortifying collaboration between the agricultural research centers of the two countries.
The primary objectives include elevating the productivity of key crops such as rice, wheat, and corn, as well as engineering new varieties tailored to Mauritania’s specific environmental and agricultural requirements.
A notable proposal from the meeting involves establishing a branch of the Egyptian Agricultural Research Center in Nouakchott. This facility would function as a regional hub, facilitating the dissemination of Egyptian agricultural technologies and knowledge across West Africa.
Mauritania, like many sub-Saharan African nations, depends heavily on local cereals as staple foods but imports a substantial portion of its wheat supply, given the limited domestic production.
As one of West Africa’s largest wheat importers, the country has pursued strategies to cultivate a robust local sector, aiming to mitigate vulnerabilities associated with foreign market dependencies.
In 2023, Mauritania’s Ministry of Agriculture forged a partnership with the Arab Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) program, the Arab Center for Arid Zones and Drylands Studies (ACSAD), and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
This collaboration focuses on advancing local wheat seed production and implementing a national certified wheat seed multiplication program.
Building on these efforts, in March 2024, Mauritania reported the successful outcome of an initial wheat cultivation trial spanning 200 hectares in the Trarza region. Conducted under a public-private partnership, the trial yielded between 4 and 5 tonnes per hectare, demonstrating promising potential for scaled-up production.
Egypt serves as an exemplary model for such agricultural advancements, particularly in arid environments.
Despite possessing only approximately 5% arable land, Egypt leads Africa in wheat production with an annual harvest of about 9.5 million tons.
It ranks second on the continent in milled rice production, yielding nearly 4 million tons behind Nigeria, and fifth in corn with around 7 million tons, following South Africa, Tanzania, Nigeria, and Ethiopia, as per data from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
According to country data, these achievements stem from a strategy emphasizing research and efficient irrigation systems.
Therefore, this enhanced cooperation between Mauritania and Egypt represents a pivotal advancement in bilateral agricultural relations to boost production in both countries.
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