2024-05-08 22:55:05
According to the Mauritanian Ministry of Agriculture, the first large-scale experiment bore fruit last March in the commune of Rosso, in the Trarza region. This trial is the result of a partnership between the public sector and two private agricultural companies. Excellent news for this country which imports almost all of its wheat.
The large-scale trial involved growing two varieties of wheat on 200 hectares of sandy soil in the municipality of Rosso. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, between 4 and 5 tonnes of wheat per hectare were obtained.
A promising and encouraging result for this importing country, according to Isselmou Ould Sid El Moktar, regional delegate of the Ministry of Agriculture in Trarza. He underlines that this new experience proves once once more that wheat cultivation is profitable, and specifies that with the sustained support of the public authorities and the investment of the private sector, the Mauritania might cover its wheat needs as is almost the case today with rice.
« Land and water requirements are favorable, he believes. Wheat is less restrictive than growing rice, less expensive in terms of water, it’s new, there aren’t many diseases… The State has provided support to investors. The State’s strategy at the time favored rice, I think that now it is committed to this crop and I think that it will continue or increase support. Because we need these cereals. »
A necessary investment
The regional delegate specifies that to carry out this experiment, the Mauritanian State has increased aid: through the supply of fertilizers, the opening up of the area, the protection of crops or even the electrification of production areas. “ A necessary and strategic investment for the supply of the country “, according to Isselmou Ould Mohamed Taleb, economist and statistician who recalls the international context, particularly since the expiration last July of the agreement on Ukrainian grain exports. According to the last quarterly note for 2023, Mauritania imported 1/5th of its wheat.
The profitability challenge
The economist Isselmou Ould Mohamed Taleb also specifies that this new culture is a bet: “ Wheat is certainly a strategic commodity for Mauritaniahe explains, we take fewer risks with international events. But rice was subsidized for many years in Mauritania, as were inputs. Will growing wheat be as profitable as growing rice? The price of wheat is significantly lower than the price of rice on the markets and there is also competition from external wheat. »
He also hopes that this desire to grow wheat will continue despite the challenges: “ It will take a long time to first have a qualified workforce. There are also those who own land, who do not have the means to develop it and in addition, it will be necessary to ensure that the market will be a market with sufficient purchasing power. But it might work. »
According to FAO data, Mauritania imported more than 75,000 tonnes of wheat worth $322 million to the international market in 2022.
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