Minister of Agriculture urges the National Federation of Agriculture in Gorgol to double efforts to achieve Food Sovereignty.
Kaedi
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty, Mr. Momma Ould Beibatah, chaired last night at the National Center for Agricultural Research and Agricultural Development, a meeting with the members of the National Federation of Agriculture at the level of Gorgol, which included the local coordinations of agriculture at the district level of the state.
The meeting, which was attended by the governor of Gorgol, Mr. Mohamed El-Mokhtar Ould Abdi, was dedicated to discussing the current state of agriculture in its irrigated and rain-fed aspects in the region, the main issues at hand, and the ways to address them.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty confirmed at the beginning of the meeting that agriculture is one of the main priorities of the program of His Excellency President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani aimed at achieving self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
He explained that his current visit to the Kouroul region aims to speak with farmers and understand the problems that prevent achieving the desired goals. It is also part of the periodic and field follow-up he conducts from time to time, especially with the beginning of the autumn agricultural campaign and the seasonal planting, to ensure that farmers are engaging in agriculture, in response to the repeated calls of the President of the Republic to increase the cultivation of various agricultural patterns as a means to achieve the high goal of the government, which is self-sufficiency and food sovereignty.
During the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture reviewed the efforts made by his sector in providing agricultural inputs, plant protection, pest control, bringing services closer to farmers, and introducing agricultural mechanization into production and farming methods, which have started to yield results through increased production in various agricultural crops.
He confirmed that the sector is working on introducing wheat cultivation as a strategic crop in the flood areas in order to expand and diversify the production area.The Minister spoke about the new project for sugar production in the area of Foum Lkeleita, considering it a strategic project that will change the face of life in Foum Lkeleita by providing a welcoming environment for production and local development, creating jobs for the local workforce, and preparing generations capable of meeting the challenges in this area where its residents depend on agriculture and livestock development as a source of income.
He touched on some programs and projects implemented or underway at the level of the Gorgol State with self-funding from the government, reflecting the special interest that the state enjoys in the government’s policies under the high directives of His Excellency President Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, who is keen on creating regional and local development poles capable of addressing developmental challenges.
The mayor of the municipality of Kaedi, Mr. Ndiaye Adama, delivered a speech on behalf of the residents of his municipality, highlighting the agricultural resources that the municipality and the region boast.
He called for more technical support, guidance, and structuring for agriculture to take its place and play its role in economic and social development in line with the aspirations of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani in this area.
The meeting was complemented by interventions from farmers that mainly focused on praising how the authorities are dealing with farmers in the field of agricultural mechanization. The participants demanded the provision of agricultural guides and the proximity of services provided by the National Company for Agricultural Improvement and Works (SANAT) in the areas of reclamation and breaking isolation, as well as the restoration of all agricultural areas. The meeting was held in the presence of the governor of Kaédi, administrative and security authorities, elected officials, and several officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.