Reference Date: 09-September-2025

Planting of 2025 cereal crops underway

Sowing of the 2025 irrigated rice crop took place in June and July, while planting operations of 2025 sorghum, maize and millet crops are ongoing and about to be completed. The rainy season began in mid-June in the regions of Gorgol and Guidimakha, about two weeks earlier than usual, while elsewhere it had a generally timely onset in early July. In most regions, a dry spell in late July was followed by near to above-average rainfall amounts through August, except in the regions of Hodh Ech Chargui and Hodh El Gharbi, where rainfall deficits persisted. However, satellite‑based imagery indicates average to above‑average vegetation conditions in the country’s main producing areas as of end‑August.

Weather forecasts for September point to near‑average precipitation amounts, which are expected to boost soil moisture levels and support crop development.

Cereal production in 2025 is expected to be boosted by governmental support to farmers, which for irrigated rice production includes the cleaning, rehabilitation and construction of irrigation infrastructure, provision of input subsidies for fertilizers and herbicides, and strengthening of pest control measures. Support for rainfed cereal production focuses on the rehabilitation of dams, reinforcement of dikes and the provision of traditional crop seeds, fencing materials and improved access to tractors and ploughing equipment.

Cereal output in 2024 estimated at above‑average level

The 2024 aggregate cereal production is estimated at about 571 000 tonnes, almost 20 percent above the average of the previous five years. This good output reflects the positive impact on yields of generally favourable weather conditions and governmental support to farmers, including the provision of subsidized inputs and agricultural credit for irrigated rice, as well as improved access to mechanization services for the production of rainfed crops, which supported an expansion in the planted area. However, some dry spells and floods caused localized crop losses.

Prices of wheat flour near or below year‑earlier values

Retail prices of imported wheat flour, the most consumed cereal in the country, followed mixed trends between May and July 2025, while prices of imported rice, another key food staple, remained more or less stable during the same period. In July 2025, prices of wheat flour were close to or below those of the previous year, while prices of imported rice were near or up to 10 percent above their year‑earlier levels.

Refugee influx drives high levels of acute food insecurity in Hodh Ech Chargui region

According to the March 2025 Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, about 590 000 people (12 percent of the analysed population) were estimated to be facing acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) during the June to August 2025 lean season period, including nearly 11 900 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This is below the 657 000 people (14 percent of the analysed population) estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance during the same period in 2024. However, the actual number of acutely food insecure people during the 2025 lean season is likely to increase when accounting for a separate CH analysis of the Malian refugee population in the region of Hodh Ech Chargui, which was also conducted in March 2025. This analysis estimates that about 44 000 refugees (18 percent of the analysed population) were facing acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including over 6 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency).

The Hodh Ech Chargui region remains the main destination in the country for the sustained inflow of refugees from Mali. As of June 2025, the M’bera refugee camp was hosting approximately 120 000 Malian refugees, a 10 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024, while an additional 173 000 Malians sought shelter in localities across the region. The refugee influx has exerted significant pressure on natural resources, livelihoods and basic social services, exacerbating acute food insecurity in host communities. About 17 percent of the Mauritanian residents in the Hodh Ech Chargui region are estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance during the 2025 lean season.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:

FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .