The IOFS, represented by Program Manager Makpal Bulatova, gathered experts in Nouakchott, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, on March 15-17 to conduct an Inception Workshop for the Regional Project on Improvement of the Wheat System in Mauritania to discuss the main components of the project and identify the stakeholders.

The IOFS established the Wheat Task Force consisting of scientists and agronomists from North Africa to implement the regional initiative piloting in Mauritania with the expedition purpose of assessing wheat issues of the country.

On March 15, international experts from Morocco, Tunisia and Sudan identified the priority areas for researching wheat growing in Mauritania. The Task Force, which included scientists from CNRADA, CILSS, ACSAD, AOAD and others, presented the best practices of irrigation systems, crop management, and existing wheat breeding programs, and developed climate change-tolerant wheat varieties.

The main objectives of the project include enhancing the production capacity of agroecosystems, applying innovative and climate-smart technologies to improve nutrients and water use efficiency, and applying appropriate farming management approaches, among others.

The Regional Project focuses on scientists’ capacity-building while incorporating farmers, in wheat cultivation practices, improving the extension services, and implementing the best practices of the irrigation system suitable for Mauritania. The Project is to be replicated in other countries of North Africa upon successful implementation.