Area:
|
1 025 000 sq.km
|
Climate:
|
Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme south with rains in June-September
|
Population:
|
2.80 million (2002 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: US$370 (2000)
|
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
|
In Mauritania, 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 tight food supply situation has been worsened by unseasonably heavy rains and cold weather which affected the regions of Brakna, Trarza and Gorgol on 9-11 January, causing casualties and leaving thousands of people homeless. More than 120 000 head of livestock died and at least 6 000 tonnes of rice just harvested were damaged. Prices of cereals, which were already higher than a year ago, have risen considerably on most markets. Already, 79 communes in Gorgol, Brakna, Tagant, Adrar, Trarza and Hodh El Chargoui have been identified as at risk of food shortages and civil distress has been reported in most of these regions.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total | |
|
Previous five years average production |
- |
82 |
86 |
168 |
Previous five years average imports |
245 |
59 |
9 |
313 |
|
2001/02 Domestic Availability |
55 |
39 |
102 |
196 |
2001 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
58 |
102 |
160 |
2001 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
39 |
102 |
141 |
Possible stock drawdown |
55 |
- |
- |
55 |
|
2001/02 Utilization |
235 |
114 |
131 |
480 |
Food use |
200 |
98 |
114 |
412 |
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Non-food use |
20 |
15 |
16 |
51 |
Exports or re-exports |
15 |
1 |
1 |
17 |
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
2001/02 Import Requirement |
180 |
75 |
29 |
2841/ |
Anticipated commercial imports |
170 |
60 |
27 |
257 |
Food aid needs |
10 |
15 |
2 |
27 |
|
Current Aid Position |
||||
Food aid pledges |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
of which: delivered |
1 |
1 |
2 |
4 |
Donor-financed purchases |
- |
- |
- |
- |
of which: for local use |
- |
- |
- |
- |
for export |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/year) |
71 |
35 |
41 |
147 |
Indexes |
||||
2001 Production as % of average: |
95 | |||
2001/02 Import requirement as % of average: |
91 |
1/ Includes 15 000 tonnes of wheat for re-export.
