|
Area:
|
1 025 000 sq.km
|
|
Climate:
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Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme
south with rains in June-September
|
|
Population:
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2.64 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$
450 (1997)
|
|
Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
|
|
Logistics:
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Port capacity adequate, though storms during January-March
sometimes cause difficulties
|
|
Major foodcrops:
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Wheat, rice, millet and sorghum
|
|
Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: July-September
|
|
Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
|
54 percent
|
Prospects for rainfed and recession crops are favourable, reflecting abundant precipitation which, however, caused flooding of irrigated rice fields. Abundant rains in mid and late August and September, combined with the high level reached by the Sénégal river, caused substantial flooding in Brakna, Gorgol and Trarza, in the Sénégal river basin. An inter-agency mission has been organized to assess the impact of these floods. Pastures are in good condition. Low numbers of Desert Locusts were reported in September in Brakna west of Moudjeria, in Tagant near Tidjikja, in the Akoukar region near Aïoun El Atrous and north of Nema. Limited breeding started in early September and is expected to continue in Brakna and Aouker Aïoun, and will almost certainly extend to Trarza, northern Assaba and the two Hodhs. Once vegetation starts to dry out, locusts are likely to concentrate and form small groups. Some may also start to appear further north in Inchiri and Adrar.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission from 18 to 22 October estimated aggregate cereal production in 1999/2000 at 250 900 tonnes (rice in paddy equivalent) which is 28 percent above the 195 400 tonnes harvested in 1998/99 and well above average.
The food situation is likely to improve in rural areas following this good harvest, except in the flooded areas. Food distributions are underway for the affected populations. WFP distributions also started in September for 161 692 people in Aftout and Affolé affected by poor harvests in 1998.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
71 |
101 |
172 |
|
Normal Imports |
200 |
70 |
12 |
282 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
17 |
7 |
3 |
27 |
|
1999/2000 Domestic Availability |
20 |
68 |
165 |
252 |
|
1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
86 |
165 |
251 |
|
1999 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
58 |
165 |
222 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
20 |
10 |
- |
30 |
|
1999/2000 Utilization |
235 |
128 |
165 |
527 |
|
Food Use |
195 |
114 |
112 |
421 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
10 |
10 |
|
Non-food use |
25 |
10 |
26 |
61 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
15 |
3 |
2 |
20 1/ |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
25 |
25 |
|
1999/2000 Import Requirement |
215 |
60 |
- |
275 |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
200 |
50 |
- |
250 |
|
Food aid needs |
15 |
10 |
- |
25 |
|
Current Aid Position |
||||
|
Food aid pledges |
3 |
- |
- |
3 |
|
of which: Delivered |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
74 |
43 |
42 |
159 |
|
Indexes |
||||
|
1999 production as % of normal: |
146 |
|||
|
1999/2000 import requirement as % of normal: |
98 |
|||
|
1999/2000 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
93 |
