Thumbnail Image

Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)

Country brief - Mauritania

Year of publication 2025

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 5 p.

Author FAO

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet

Synopsis (short abstract) The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory services across the Arab region by linking public, private, and civil-society providers. In Mauritania, agriculture is vital for livelihoods and food security despite scarce arable land (about 0.5 percent of national area) and strong exposure to climate variability. Over 62 percent of people depend on rural activities; the sector contributes roughly a quarter of GDP, with production split between rainfed systems and irrigation concentrated along the Senegal River Valley, plus oases in the north. Major outputs include millets, sorghum, maize, rice, vegetables, and dates. Livestock is significant, adding about 10 percent to GDP and employing about 11 percent of the active population, though productivity remains low. Policy frameworks include LOAP 2012, RSDS and PNDA through 2025, and SCAPP 2016–2030, complemented by a National Digital Agriculture Strategy and a forthcoming mechanization strategy. The Ministry of Agriculture leads extension through regional delegations, the National School for Agricultural Training and Extension, SONADER, and CNRADA. Innovation is advancing via new crop varieties, farmer field schools, the SHEP approach, mechanization training, and digital initiatives such as the Farmer Observatory, the Hassad app, and an innovation centre in Kaédi supporting drones, GIS, and smart farming.

Language English

Also available in:

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)
    Country brief - Morocco
    2025
    Also available in:
    The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory services across the Arab region. In Morocco, agriculture remains central for livelihoods and trade in a predominantly smallholder landscape. About two thirds of national land is agricultural, the sector contributed roughly a tenth of GDP in 2023, and nearly a third of employment, with women representing almost half of the agricultural workforce. Production spans modern private irrigated farms oriented to exports, large dam-irrigated perimeters for domestic markets, and extensive rainfed systems, especially in the northwest. Key outputs include cereals, vegetables that account for a large share of exports, olives that dominate fruit-tree area, dates, and a diversified livestock sector; domestic dairy supply covers most national needs. Policy is guided by the Green Generation Strategy 2020–2030, which builds on the Green Morocco Plan and prioritizes human capital and higher value-chain performance. The public advisory backbone is ONCA, operating a national network of regional and local centers while contracting licensed private advisors and partnering with research and producer bodies. Digital platforms such as ARDNA, virtual farmer field schools, and the ONCABOT assistant extend reach and support entrepreneurship programs for youth.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)
    Country brief - Saudi Arabia
    2025
    Also available in:
    The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory services across the Arab region by linking public, private, and civil-society providers. In Saudi Arabia, agriculture is modest yet strategic, contributing 2.7 percent of GDP in 2023 and employing about 3 percent of the population. Although 81.14 percent of national land is classified as agricultural, nearly all is permanent meadows and pastures, with only 1.98 percent arable and 0.12 percent in permanent crops, reflecting arid conditions and water scarcity. The kingdom is a global leader in dates, producing more than 1.6 million tonnes on 165 000 hectares with strong self-sufficiency, while remaining a net food importer that still exports dates, wheat, dairy, eggs, fish, poultry, fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Vision 2030 and the National Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture guide sustainable growth, resource efficiency, and technology adoption. MEWA leads a pluralistic advisory system, expands extension centres and digital tools, and operates platforms such as Murshiduk and the Field app, alongside initiatives on smart agriculture, women’s empowerment, and integrated support for small farmers.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Brochure, flyer, fact-sheet
    Arab Forum For Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS)
    Country brief - United Arab Emirates
    2025
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    The Arab Forum for Rural Advisory Services (AFRAS) strengthens inclusive, climate-smart advisory systems across the Arab region by linking public, private, and civil-society providers. In the United Arab Emirates, agriculture operates under arid conditions and scarce water with limited arable land (~5.5 percent), yet remains strategic for food security and diversification. The sector contributes ~0.7 percent of GDP (2023) and ~1 percent of employment, guided by the National Food Security Strategy 2051 to scale tech-enabled, sustainable production and nutrition. Dates are the flagship crop and leading agri-export, with ~24,000 farmers. Public support is led by MOCCAE (input subsidies, 21 extension officers, training, 2025 National Agricultural Guidance Forum) and Abu Dhabi entities (ADFSC, ADAFSA). Digitalization is rapid: online extension requests, the Abu Dhabi Agricultural Genome Program, EDB AgriTech finance, and market/traceability platforms (Al Foah, eZad, Food Watch), complemented by cooperatives and agritourism.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

No results found.