Area: |
1 025 000 sq.km |
Climate: |
Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid
fringe in extreme south with rains in June-September |
Population: |
2.64 million (2000 estimate); G.N.P.
per caput: US$380 (1999) |
Specific characteristics of the
country: |
Low-income food-deficit country;
coastal country |
Logistics: |
Port capacity adequate, though storms
during January-March sometimes cause difficulties |
Major foodcrops: |
Wheat, rice, millet and sorghum |
Marketing year: |
November/October; Lean season:
July-September |
Share of cereals in total calorie
intake: |
54 percent |
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 were good to excellent countrywide. Grasshopper attacks have been reported but mainly on pastures. Treatments have been undertaken against grain eating birds, notably in Trarza. A small Desert Locust outbreak that began in October in central and western Mauritania continued during November in northern Brakna, eastern Trarza, south-western Adrar, and in Inchiri. Nomads also indicated that some locusts were present in the extreme north. Ground control operations increased in the above areas, treating a total of 10 655 hectares during November. As the vegetation becomes dry and during periods of warm southerly winds, locusts are expected to move north into northern Inchiri and Tiris-Zemmour and slowly mature, perhaps laying in areas of any rainfall. Swarms could start to form resulting in a second wave of small swarms moving northwards into northern Mauritania in January.
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 4 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.
| Wheat | Rice | Coarse grains | Total | |
| Previous five years average production | - | 78 | 99 | 177 |
| Previous five years average imports | 220 | 64 | 10 | 294 |
| 2000/01 Domestic Availability | - | 41 | 109 | 150 |
| 2000 Production (rice in paddy terms) | - | 61 | 109 | 170 |
| 2000 Production (rice in milled terms) | - | 41 | 109 | 150 |
| Possible stock drawdown | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Utilization | 220 | 111 | 119 | 450 |
| Food Use | 180 | 101 | 100 | 381 |
| of which: local purchase requirement | - | - | 5 | 5 |
| Non-food use | 25 | 8 | 18 | 51 |
| Exports or Re-exports | 15 | 2 | 1 | 18 |
| Possible stock build up | - | - | - | - |
| 2000/01 Import Requirement | 220 | 70 | 10 | 300 |
| Anticipated commercial imports | 205 | 60 | 5 | 270 |
| Food aid needs | 15 | 10 | 5 | 30 |
| Current Aid Position | ||||
| Food aid pledges | 3 | 7 | 13 | 23 |
| of which: Delivered | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Donor-financed purchases | - | - | - | - |
| of which: for local use | - | - | - | - |
| for export | - | - | - | - |
| Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) | 66 | 37 | 37 | 140 |
| Indexes | ||||
| 2000 production as % of average: | 96 | |||
| 2000/01 import requirement as % of average: | 102 |
1/ Including 15 000 tonnes for re-export.
