FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 02/02 - MAURITANIA (5 February)
Unseasonably heavy rains and cold weather which affected the regions of Brakna, Trarza and Gorgol on 9-11 January caused casualties and left thousands of people homeless. More than 120 000 head of livestock died and 3 000 tonnes of rice just harvested were damaged. Prices of cereals which were already higher than a year ago, have risen considerably in these regions.
A joint FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in October 2001 estimated aggregate cereal production in 2001 at some 160 000 tonnes, lower than both the previous year and average. This decrease was mostly due to inadequate availability of irrigation water due to the low water level in the Senegal river which reached the flood level only in early September. By contrast, production in low-lying areas has increased compared to 2000 as all operational dams reached over 70 percent of capacity.
The food supply situation continues to be very tight and civil distress has been reported, notably in the Senegal river valley and in the Aftout. Already, 79 communes in Gorgol, Brakna, Takant, Adrar, Trarza and Hodh El Chargoui have been identified as at risk of food shortages.
Cereal import requirement including re-exports in the marketing year ending October 2002 is estimated at 279 000 tonnes, including 22 000 tonnes of food aid.