| Area: | 1 030 000 sq.km |
| Climate: | Mostly a Saharian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme south with rains in June-September |
| Population: | 2.42 million (1996 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 460 (1995) |
| 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 |
CURRENT SITUATION
An early start of the rains permitted first plantings in June in the south. First significant rains reached the centre-south in early June. Additional rains were received in mid and late June (notably on 30 June) in the south and the east. Planting of coarse grains has started following these first early rains but replantings may become necessary if rains do not persist regularly in July. Elsewhere, land preparation is underway.
No Desert Locusts were seen during surveys carried out in the centre of the country near Tidjikja and in the south-east near Nema during June. Locust numbers are expected to increase slightly in the south as adults appear from the north and perhaps from the east. Small scale laying is likely to occur in parts of the two Hodhs with the onset of the seasonal rains
The overall food supply situation is reported to be tight for several populations affected by a poor crop in rainfed areas, notably in Brakna, Gorgol and Tagant regions. Cereal prices are much higher than in previous years at the same period. A multi-agency assessment of the needs of the affected populations recommended food assistance for 200 000 persons for 6 months amounting to 16 500 tons (14 400 tons of cereals, 1 440 tons of beans and 720 tons of vegetable oil). An Emergency Operation has been jointly approved by FAO and WFP to cover these needs. A first tranche of local purchases has been completed to enable distribution in July and August. The government and NGOs have also undertaken or scheduled food distributions in Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and other wilayas not covered by the WFP project. Two camps of Tuareg refugees in the east near Bassikonou have closed in late June following repatriation of refugees to Mali. Some assistance is scheduled for the local population for rehabilitation of the areas around the camps. For the 1996/97 marketing year (November/October), the cereal import requirement, including re-exports, is estimated at 310 000 tons and the food aid requirement at 75 000 tons.
|
Wheat |
Rice |
Coarse grains |
Total |
|
|
Normal Production |
- |
53 |
105 |
158 |
|
Normal Imports |
150 |
85 |
20 |
255 |
|
of which: Structural food aid |
20 |
2 |
10 |
32 |
|
1996/97 Domestic Availability |
1 |
50 |
65 |
116 |
|
1996 Production (rice in paddy terms) |
- |
67 |
55 |
121 |
|
1996 Production (rice in milled terms) |
- |
45 |
55 |
99 |
|
Possible stock drawdown |
1 |
5 |
10 |
16 |
|
1996/97 Utilization |
151 |
140 |
135 |
426 |
|
Food Use |
116 |
132 |
125 |
373 |
|
of which: local purchase requirement |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Non-food use |
25 |
8 |
9 |
42 |
|
Exports or Re-exports |
10 |
- |
1 |
11 |
|
Possible stock build up |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
1996/97 Import Requirement |
150 1/ |
90 |
70 |
310 1/ |
|
Anticipated commercial imports |
130 |
85 |
20 |
235 |
|
Food aid needs |
20 |
5 |
50 |
75 |
|
Current Aid Position | ||||
|
Food aid pledges |
20 |
7 |
9 |
36 |
|
of which: Delivered |
17 |
7 |
8 |
32 |
|
Donor-financed local purchases |
- |
- |
2 |
2 |
|
Estimated Per Caput Consumption (kg/Year) |
48 |
54 |
52 |
154 |
|
Indexes | ||||
|
1996 production as % of normal: |
77 |
|||
|
1996/97 import requirement as % of normal: |
122 |
|||
|
1996/97 food aid requirement as % of normal: |
234 |