The imperative of supporting smallholder farmers, women and
youth are top on the agenda for a forthcoming meeting between the President of International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Mr. Gilbert F. Houngbo, and Mauritanian
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, reports NaijaAgroNet.
The meeting, according to David Florentin Paqui of IFAD
Communications Division in Nouakchott, affirmed to NaijaAgroNet, said would be
witnessed by senior officials of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, to discuss
how investment in agriculture could ensure food and nutrition security and
create jobs for rural people, particularly women and youth.
NaijaAgroNet
recalls that in Mauritania, 41 per cent of the population lives in rural areas,
and half depend on agriculture for their income, whereas farming generates 25
per cent of gross domestic product (GDP), hence, small farms are vital for the
country’s food security as well as its economy.
During an official three-day visit to the country starting
Monday, April 9, Houngbo hinted his meeting with the Mauritanian President and
Prime Minister, Yahya Ould Hademine would have support for smallholders
farmers, women and youth top on agenda.
In addition, NaijaAgroNet
gathered that a joint working meeting with the Minister of Economy and Finance,
the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Livestock and the Minister of
Environment will focus on the role of smallholder farmers in ensuring food
security in Mauritania, the challenge of climate change, and the opportunities
agriculture can offer to young people in rural areas.
Investing in a new generation of smallholder farmers is
essential. Of Mauritania’s 4 million people, 40 per cent are under 15 years of
age, 60 per cent are under 25 and only 5 per cent are over 60. Half of the
population derives their livelihoods from raising crops and livestock and
fishing. Although the country is self-sufficient in red meat and fish, it
imports 60 per cent of other staple foodstuffs, particularly rice, vegetables,
sugar and cooking oil.
IFAD and the government of Mauritania are working together
to improve food security and nutrition, increase the incomes of poor rural
households, create jobs and reduce the country's dependence on food imports.
Since 1980, IFAD has financed 14 projects and programmes in Mauritania for a
total of $342.3 million, including $136.2 million from IFAD’s own resources,
directly benefitting nearly 190,470 Mauritanian rural households.
Houngbo will deliver a keynote address at the opening
session of the Regional Implementation Forum organized in Nouakchott by the
West and Central Africa Division of IFAD. Later, he will join Lemina Mint El
Ghotob Ould Moma, Minister of Agriculture, in Kiffa to meet with rural people
benefiting from an IFAD-supported Poverty Reduction Project in Aftout South and
Karakoro – Phase II designed to help build, an economic and social fabric based
on sustainable natural resource management that is inclusive of poor rural
households, particularly women and young people. Because of its achievements in
promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment, this project was a recipient
of a 2017 IFAD Gender Award.
Isaac Oyimah/GEE
