The President of the Republic chairs a meeting with the leaders of Lexseïba District and emphasizes the commitment to achieving food sovereignty
His Excellency the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, chaired on Thursday night in Lexseïba District, an extensive meeting with the district’s leaders, notables, and influencers, as part of his fourth stop during the familiarization visit he is currently making to the Gorgol region.
His Excellency began the meeting by thanking the residents of Lekseïba District for the warm reception they gave him yesterday evening, affirming that this reception was “filled with feelings of satisfaction,” and expressing his appreciation for the warmth and hospitality shown by the attendees.
The President stated that Lexseïba, despite being a relatively new district, has long-standing administrative and social foundations, noting that it is distinguished as a space of peaceful and fraternal coexistence among the components of Mauritanian society, which he considered a major asset that should be preserved and strengthened.
His Excellency added that they have been in the state for a few days and that through these meetings, they are keen to maintain direct communication with citizens, listen to their opinions, involve them in discussing the country’s overall conditions, especially the interests of the district, and learn about their aspirations and the challenges they face in their daily lives, particularly in developmental aspects.
The President confirmed that the interventions he heard were at the heart of the meeting’s topic, stressing that the aspirations of young people are legitimate and that the issue of their employment is very important.
Regarding artisanal mining, the President mentioned that since 2020, because the activity was being conducted in a way that required more organization and safety, the “Maaden” Agency was established to regulate it.
He explained that the granting of mining areas is done according to known procedures and that the agency cannot grant areas that do not fall under its jurisdiction, as is the case with the National Company for Mines and Industry (SNIM), which, if it wants to explore outside its areas, must submit a request to the Council of Ministers to obtain a license.
He added that if the lands being claimed belong to the ‘Maaden’ Agency, resolving the issue would be simpler, and they could be divided among those concerned if they submit a request to that effect. However, if they do not belong to it, other procedures would be required, and legal processes would need to be awaited. He also thanked the participants who raised the issue of environmental preservation.
His Excellency the President then addressed the topic of food sovereignty, emphasizing that it is a national issue that does not concern Gorgol or Lexseïba alone. He explained that in 2024, a ministerial sector dedicated to agriculture and food sovereignty was established, indicating a shift from merely practicing agriculture to achieving a specific goal focused on ensuring food self-sufficiency and sovereignty.
He noted that this approach did not come out of nowhere but was based on lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the fragility of countries that do not produce their own food and the possibility of similar crises recurring, whether due to pandemics, wars, or disruptions in supply chains. He stated that the lesson is that a country that does not produce food for its citizens is fragile, dependent, and lacks sovereignty.
He confirmed that he had instructed the government to prepare a clear strategy to ensure food sovereignty as quickly as possible, and that this strategy had made great strides, with the country on the verge of achieving self-sufficiency in rice, while working on improving productivity and product quality, which will directly reflect on prices in favor of the citizen, expressing hope to move towards exporting in the future if the required quality levels are reached.
He added that significant progress had been made in vegetable production, as national production currently meets the country’s needs for several months, and the government is working on finding solutions for storing vegetables, which could make it possible to eliminate imports throughout the year.
He explained that focusing on irrigated agriculture does not mean abandoning traditional seasonal farming, emphasizing that there is a vision to develop it through mechanization and reducing the physical effort borne by farmers.
His Excellency the President of the Republic revealed that the government is working on creating large water canals, some of which have already begun, while others are still in the study phase. These canals will irrigate tens of thousands of hectares, in addition to the construction of dozens of large dams.
Regarding what is referred to as the ‘real estate problem,’ His Excellency stated that it has been politicized for long periods and burdened with more than it can bear. He considered it not to be bigger than its actual size, especially since the currently cultivated agricultural areas do not exceed 60,000 hectares, while the state is working on reclaiming and irrigating 150,000 hectares, with an additional 500,000 hectares suitable for reclamation.
He added that the current phase focuses on launching 130,000 new hectares, which will render the issue of land scarcity non-existent, assuring that everyone will find enough, and that the state will provide land to attract investors capable of developing agriculture and introducing modern technologies, which will positively impact the national economy.
His Excellency the President of the Republic emphasized that land originally belongs to the state, and that the ways of owning it individually are defined by law. At the same time, he stressed that there is no need to seize any land from a citizen or family that has been cultivating it themselves or that their parents cultivated, especially if the purpose is to give it to another citizen for cultivation, considering that this will not happen and is unacceptable.
He added that, on the contrary, obtaining ownership documents for those who or whose parents cultivate land will be facilitated according to the law, stressing that the goal is not to seek ownership of land and obstruct it, but to launch an agricultural revolution that enables the country to achieve food sovereignty, making it capable of producing its own food even if external supplies are interrupted.
His Excellency concluded by emphasizing that the reclamation of agricultural lands will expand sufficiently to provide work for young people and investors, welcoming investments and reaffirming his commitment not to seize a single inch of land from any citizen or family that has been utilizing it.