Mauritania is positioning agriculture as a strategic pillar for national sovereignty, aiming to reduce its heavy reliance on food imports. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country imports about 70% of its food needs, spending over $500 million annually. The government has launched a national strategy to develop irrigated agriculture along the Senegal River valley, targeting an increase in rice production to 400,000 tons by 2027.
Key initiatives include rehabilitating 50,000 hectares of irrigable land and providing subsidized inputs to smallholder farmers. The World Bank supports these efforts through the 'Agriculture and Food Security Project' (PASA), which has allocated $80 million for infrastructure and training. In 2025, Mauritania produced 180,000 tons of rice, up from 140,000 tons in 2020, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Challenges remain, including water scarcity, climate variability, and limited access to credit. However, the government is also promoting drought-resistant crops like sorghum and millet. The goal is to cut food imports by 20% by 2030, enhancing food security and reducing vulnerability to global price shocks.
