FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/00 - MAURITANIA (6 November)
Following generally widespread and above-normal rains in July and August, growing conditions were favourable for rainfed crops. Unusual substantial late rains were registered in mid- October. Prospects for off-season recession crops are less favourable than last year as dams are not fully filled and the Senegal river reached a lower level this year. Irrigated rice has been planted with some delays in Brakna and Gorgol but production should recover from last year when large areas were flooded in the lower Senegal river valley.
Pastures are good to excellent countrywide but are starting to dry up. Grasshopper attacks have been reported but mainly on pastures. Treatments have been undertaken against grain eating birds, notably in Trarza. Low numbers Desert Locusts were present and breeding during October in parts of Trarza, Brakna, Tagant, and Inchiri. By the end of the month, several dense patches of hoppers were found in southern Adrar and bands were reported from Trarza. Ground teams initiated control operations. Hoppers will continue to form groups and small bands during November primarily in Trarza and southern Adrar but this could extend to parts of Brakna, Tagant and Inchiri and small swarms are likely to form. Once vegetation starts to dry out, they are likely to move northwards into Inchiri, Adrar and Tiris-Zemmour. Several swarms which appeared recently in Mali may also move into northern Mauritania.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in mid-October estimated the 2000 cereal production at 170 000 tonnes, which is 12 percent below last year�s level and 3 percent below the average of the last five years.
The food situation improved in rural areas following a favourable harvest in rainfed areas in 1999. Markets are well supplied. However, some populations remain vulnerable, notably in some areas of Aftout and Affol�, Tagant, southern Assaba and the two Hodhs.
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