In 2022, Mauritania was struck by extreme flooding that devastated crops and livestock, particularly in the Brakna and Trarza regions. Thousands of families were displaced, and food insecurity sharply increased. In response, FAO, partnered with the Mauritanian government, and supported by the Government of Japan to launch a project aimed at strengthening the resilience of agro-pastoral communities.

Through this initiative, FAO organized intensive training sessions in Rosso for 20 facilitators from the most affected areas. These facilitators were trained in two complementary approaches: the Farmer Field School (FFS), which promotes hands-on, participatory learning in agriculture, and the Japanese SHEP (Smallholder Horticulture Empowerment and Promotion) model, which encourages producers to align their production with market demand.

In early 2025, these trained facilitators launched 20 Farmer Field Schools in local villages. One of them, in the community of M’Bott, would change the life of a young man named Souleymane Djemera.

Souleymane, a graduate of the agricultural high school of Boghé, found himself without employment or prospects. Despite his training, he faced the harsh reality of rural youth in Mauritania: limited job opportunities and growing uncertainty. Discouraged, he began to consider migration to the United States, desperate to find a better future for himself and his family.

Then he heard about the Farmer Field School (FFS) set up in M’Bott. Curious, he attended a session and it changed everything. What he found was not just technical training, but a new way of seeing agriculture. The school offered practical, hands-on experience: learning how to grow okra and tomatoes, from sowing to transplanting, and analysing production costs and market opportunities. The participatory environment also helped him build confidence and exchange ideas with others facing similar challenges.

Through the FFS, Souleymane began to see agriculture not as a last resort, but as a real business opportunity. With the guidance of trained facilitators and the support of his peers, he developed a plan to cultivate his own land using the modern techniques he had learned. He also started to understand market trends and how to plan his production to sell at the right time for better profits—core principles of the SHEP approach.

Today, Souleymane has a clear vision for his future. Instead of migrating, he has chosen to invest in his community. He is now preparing to launch his own agricultural project, applying everything he learned through the FFS. His story is a powerful example of how young people, when given the right tools and support, can become drivers of local development.

Souleymane’s journey shows that with the right investment, agriculture can become a true pathway to stability, dignity, and economic opportunity for youth in rural Mauritania.

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