Area:
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1 025 000 sq.km
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Climate:
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Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme south with rains in June-September
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Population:
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2.64 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$ 410 (1998)
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Specific characteristics of the country:
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Low-income food-deficit country; coastal country
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Logistics:
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Port capacity adequate, though storms during January-March sometimes cause difficulties
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Major foodcrops:
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Wheat, rice, millet and sorghum
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Marketing year:
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November/October; Lean season: July-September
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Share of cereals in total calorie intake:
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54 percent
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First rains in June permitted plantings to start in the south. The first rains were registered on 9 and 10 June in the two Hodhs and Guidimakha. Precipitation remained limited during the second dekad of June but improved significantly during the third dekad, notably on 25 and 28 June, thus marking the real start of the rainy season. Precipitation improved again in early July, notably in Assaba, Gorgol and Guidimakha. Plantings are well underway in Guidimakha, south Gorgol, Assaba and the two Hodhs. They are about to start in the other agricultural areas.
In mid-June, some groups of Desert Locust adults were reported east of Nouadhibou in the Dakhlet, near Bou Lanouar and the Moroccan border. No other locust activity was reported during the month. Low numbers of adults are likely to appear in the summer breeding areas of Tagant and the two Hodhs and lay with the onset of the rains. No further activity is likely in the north due to dry conditions.
National services recently published the final 1999 production figures. The aggregate output of cereals is estimated at 192 800 tonnes which is below previous estimates due to lower production of walo recession crops following pest attacks but it remains above average. The food situation improved in rural areas following good harvest in rainfed areas in 1999. Food distributions have been undertaken for populations affected by large floods in late 1999 in Brakna, Gorgol, Tagant and Trarza. Markets are well supplied and prices of cereals declined substantially following harvest. Some areas of Aftout and Affolé, Tagant, southern Assaba and the two Hodhs are also vulnerable. The cereal import requirement for the 1999/2000 marketing year is estimated at 260 000 tonnes (excluding re-exports) and the food aid requirement at 25 000 tonnes.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 71 | 101 | 172 |
| Previous five years average imports | 197 | 73 | 12 | 282 |
| 1999/2000 Domestic Availability | 20 | 58 | 106 | 184 |
| 1999 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 87 | 106 | 193 |
| 1999 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 58 | 106 | 164 |
| Possible stock drawdown | 20 | - | - | 20 |
| 1999/2000 Utilization | 235 | 118 | 106 | 459 |
| Food Use | 197 | 104 | 87 | 389 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 10 | 10 |
| Non-food use | 23 | 10 | 17 | 50 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 15 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 1999/2000 Import Requirement | 215 | 60 | - | 275 1/ |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 200 | 50 | - | 250 |
| Food aid needs | 15 | 10 | - | 25 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 4 | 7 | 2 | 13 |
| of which: Delivered | 1 | 1 | - | 2 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 75 | 39 | 33 | 147 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 1999 production as % of average: | 112 | |||
| 1999/2000 import requirement as % of average: | 98 |
