The agrarian resources

Mauritania has significant agrarian resources. But agriculture remains primarily for subsistence. The agricultural activities are limited to the south of the country and in oasis’. The principal crops are millet, sorghum, rice, sweet potatoes, vegetables and root foods. Agriculture is dramatically reduced in times of drought. But rice growing in irrigated fields is experiencing significant developments.

Herd breeding is a very significant traditional activity.
Livestock’s consist of sheep, caprines, bovine and camels.
It is an extensive breeding often at the mercy of precipitations and pastures.

Fishing
Mauritanians waters have amongst the highest fish content of the world. But the traditionally nomad population did not consider the ocean. Only the Imraguen were seasonally fishing for mullets. This situation is beginning to change.

Modern fishing knew a very slow beginning in the 1930’s with the creation of small industrial fishing units. At the time of the independence in 1960, the activity of fishing was still embryonic. It is only towards the end of the 1970’s that a modern fishing flotilla started to develop. Thus, the activity of fishing which grew quickly was at the beginning in the hands of industrial trawlers and other industrial fishing ships owned by the Soviets, Japanese and Koreans. This contributed to the unrestrained plundering of the fishing resources.

Since the beginning of the1990’s, conscious of the exhaustion of the fishing resources, the authorities regulated fishing. Rules for maximum exploitation of the resources were enacted as well as control program and surveillance. A fishing code was promulgated. It should be noted that the main part of the catches is exported via the “La Société Mauritanienne de Commercialisation des Produits de Pêche or SMCP. (Mauritanian Society for the Marketing of the fishing production)

In 2003 the country exported nearly 453.000 tons of fish, for an amount of 21,7 billion ouguiya, and 43.000 tons of “pelagic” (?) for a value of 3,8 billion ouguiya. The public revenue in this sector increased by approximately 10% compared to 2001.

Evolution of the production of industrial fishing (in tons)

1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
382408	429320	370189	240615	374361

1996	1997	2000	2002	2003
620531	477291	351122	445000	569000

There is also significant activity in traditional fishing on motorized dugouts. Many governmental programs support this type of fishing.

Iron
The miming of iron I of the Kedia d' Idjil, which was discovered in the 1950’s, began its exploitation in 1963 by the MIFERMA, a society capitalized by the French. This exploitation was realized thanks to the construction of a 600 km railroad between Nouadhibou and a city new city in the desert, Zouerate. Also another new city was founded by the name of Cansado T a harbour focused of minerals was built in Nouadhibou.

Miferma was nationalized in 1974 to leave the place to the SNIM (Industrial and Mining National Company).

The SNIM constitutes a significant industrial contribution and a major employer in the country.
Iron exports reached nearly 13 million tons in 2003.

Gypsum
Gypsum deposits have been exploited for several years by the SAMIA, near Nouakchott. The plaster produced by this company is consumed within the country, and a part is exported.

Gold and diamonds For a few years, prospecting has confirmed the existence of gold ore and the prospecting continues. Promising tests indicate the probable presence of copper, nickel, cobalt and uranium as well as diamantiferous zones. The Mauritanian Office of geological Research (OMRG) and foreign companies, like Canadian Defiance Mining, undertakes research.

Marble
The SNIM has also discovered marble deposits and is already exploiting them.

Oil
The companies Woodside and Hardman discovered in 2002 two oil fields whose proven reserves are 200 million barrels, in addition to a confirmed natural gas reserve. During the summer and the winter 2003, other reserves were confirmed. These reserves would be estimated at nearly 500 million barrels and almost 3,5 billion m3 of natural gas. The actual oil exploitation should start towards the end 2005.