Trarza

Trarza anchors Mauritania's agricultural economy as the rice bowl of a nation otherwise defined by desert—90% of the country's rice production concentrates in this region along the Senegal River. Together with Brakna, Gorgol, and Guidimakha, Trarza contains 59% of Mauritania's arable land within just 12% of national territory. The October harvest season typically brings favorable conditions, with dam filling levels supporting off-season cultivation. African Development Bank irrigation projects since 2010 have trained farmers and expanded sustainable cropland, though food security remains fragile. The capital Rosso sits directly across the Senegal River from Senegal, creating a border-town economy of cross-river trade. Despite agricultural productivity, Trarza forms part of the 'triangle of poverty'—regions where development indicators lag and male emigration drains villages. The region benefits from proximity to Nouakchott, absorbing some of the capital's economic spillover while remaining distinct in its agricultural character. Pastoral conditions improved in 2024, supporting livestock herds in areas where rainfall patterns cooperated. By 2026, Trarza's trajectory depends on whether rice production can expand through irrigation investment, whether cross-border trade with Senegal increases, and whether any development model can retain working-age men in agricultural villages rather than losing them to urban migration.