He was eventually elected President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. Droughts have also contributed to desertification and in some parts of Mauritania the Sahara Desert directly threatens farm land. Agricultural crops include dates, millet, sorghum, rice, maize, pulses and yams. Farming takes place mainly along the Senegal River. Some of Mauritania's food supplies have to be imported.
Fishing is an important industry and fish are a major export.
The fishing grounds off the Atlantic coast are among the most productive in the world. As with the fishing grounds , off the South American coast, it is cold ocean currents which support the fisheries. Foreign fishing vessels are required to land part of this catch for processing in Mauritania. Iron ore is also important and accounts for a large proportion of commodities exported. Copper, phosphates, gypsum, sulphur and salt are also produced.