Support for market gardening production in Mauritania

Mauritania, with an area of 1,010,000 km2, has a population of 5,000,000 inhabitants concentrated mainly in the capital Nouakchott, and close to the Senegal River valley. The rest of the territory is almost desert and is subject to major droughts. Significant efforts have been made in recent years to combat against the advance of the desert, This is particularly the case with the major Green Wall project.

While this country is close to food self-sufficiency in rice, this is not the case for market gardening and fruit productionThe products consumed come largely from Morocco and are subject to variations in prices that are difficult to bear for consumers. And yet thousands of hectares can be cultivated at proximity to the Senegal River, they are not, due to a lack of resources in structural works and training in production techniques.

Jardins d'Espoirs was approached by the Regional Councils of the two regions close to the Senegal River: the Brakna and the Gorgol, in order to improve production conditions and therefore farmers' incomes. Indeed, wind erosion and stray animals are real scourges for market gardening in Mauritania. Furthermore, farmers' incomes are insufficient, and it appears necessary to put in place new crops and production techniques adapted to the often hostile local climatic context.