00:05Land rights in Mauritania are governed by a 1983 ordinance that abolished traditional
00:11land ownership, vesting unregistered land in the state, and creating a dual, often
00:17conflicting system of statutory and customary law.
00:20This framework disproportionately affects rural farming and pastoral communities, causing
00:26conflicts and landlessness, something Mauritania President Mohammed Al-Sheikh Al-Ghazwani is
00:32seeking to address in a bit to encourage land cultivation and strengthen food security.
00:38The role of the state is to provide the conditions for collective prosperity.
00:45The role of the individual is to make an effort and have the will to move from a difficult
00:50situation toward independence and a better life.
00:56For agricultural experts, securing land rights is key to unlocking investment and long-term
01:03stability in the sector.
01:04Without clear ownership, many investors remain hesitant to commit resources.
01:10Land ownership titles are a very important factor in attracting investors and ensuring
01:15stability in the agricultural sector.
01:17An investor cannot commit capital to land they do not own legally or control.
01:22This has therefore been a major challenge in recent years.
01:25I believe the state has tried to work around this issue by expanding cultivated areas through
01:30the construction of new irrigation canals and extending river water farther inland to reclaim
01:35new lands that are not formally owned or are currently unused.
01:39Mauritania is boosting agricultural productivity through investments in irrigation, transport and
01:45and storage while expanding farmer support.
01:48Financing remains limited, but reforms aimed at increasing credit access for agricultural investment are being rolled out.
02:00Mauritania's agricultural revolution is underway.
02:03It forms part of the objectives of the accelerated growth and shared prosperity strategy adopted
02:08by the state through which it aims to achieve self-sufficiency for the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and strengthen food
02:15security.
02:17With plans to develop up to 150,000 hectares of farmland, Mauritania is positioning agriculture at the center of its
02:25development agenda.
02:27The bigger task, however, is to turn land security, investment and infrastructure into tangible gains for farmers,
02:34while reducing dependence on food imports and building a more resilient rural economy.
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