Summary:

On 1 September 2026, an Italian delegation met Mauritania’s Minister of Agriculture Mohamedou Ahmedou Mhaimid to prepare the launch of a Bonifiche Ferraresi (BF) agricultural project in the Brakna region near Boghé.  

The project, to be implemented with the National Rural Development Company (SONADER), envisages developing between 10,000 and 20,000 hectares through the construction of a new irrigation canal, with planned production including wheat, rice and vegetables.  

According to reports, the initiative forms part of BF’s wider expansion across Africa and is being presented in the context of Italy’s Mattei Plan, which identifies agriculture and food security among its priority areas.  

Outlook: 

The project could mark a significant move in Mauritania’s efforts to scale up domestic agricultural production, particularly as the country remains heavily dependent on imported wheat. Its proposed scale also gives Italy a potentially more substantial economic role in Mauritania, with agriculture providing a practical avenue for expanding the bilateral relationship under the Mattei Plan.  

The project’s progress will be an important indicator of whether Mauritania can translate recent agricultural trials into sustained commercial production and build a more established cereal sector.  

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