Mauritania launches program to develop locally adapted wheat varieties

Mauritania has initiated a wheat seed multiplication program under the Arab-Africa Trade Bridges (AATB) initiative, in collaboration with the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC). The project aims to reduce import dependency by cultivating high-yield wheat varieties.

The AATB Program supports trade between African and Arab countries, providing financing and capacity-building tools. Formalized through a 2023 Memorandum, the Mauritania initiative, coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture, leverages ACSAD’s expertise to produce resilient wheat varieties.

In the 2023–2024 season, ACSAD supplied seeds for a 20-hectare plot in Arkez, yielding 16 tonnes of wheat for further multiplication. The project includes a national breeding program to develop wheat varieties resistant to drought and high temperatures.

Beyond seed production, the initiative enhances agricultural practices, harvest management, and institutional frameworks to minimize losses and improve the efficiency of wheat production in Mauritania.

Tags: wheat, Mauritania