Africa report 05/96 Individual countries

MAURITANIA

Area:	1 030 000 sq.km
Climate:	Mostly a Sahelian country; semi-arid fringe in extreme south with rains in June- September
Population:	2.29 million (1995 estimate); G.N.P. per caput: U.S.$ 480 (1994)
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

Seasonal dry conditions prevail. Recession crops have been harvested and prospects are promising. Aggregate 1995 cereal production (including paddy), as estimated by an FAO/CILSS Crop Assessment Mission in late October, reached 192 600 tons, slightly below the record output of 1994. Desert Locust activity has decreased since late December. A few small and low density hopper bands mixed with immature adults have been reported over a total of 160 hectares in two places south of Atar in western Adrar of Mauritania during the first dekad of March. Ground treatments including farmer control covered 280 hectares. There were also a few patches of hoppers near the border with the southern Morocco. Elsewhere, survey teams found scattered solitary adults and late instar hoppers at several locations in western Adrar and south-western Tiris Zemmour.Following two successive bumper crops, the overall food supply situation is satisfactory. Prices of cereals increased slightly in January and February but markets are well supplied. In the 1995/96 marketing year (November/October), cereal imports for domestic use and re-export are estimated at 250 000 tons and food aid requirement at 50 000 tons. Food assistance is being distributed to Tuareg refugees in camps in the east of the country. Their number is currently estimated at 34 000 compared to 80 000 in late 1994. Disturbances in food distributions due to stock problems is thought to have contributed to an increase in malnutrition rates, notably of children. Over a period of a year, 9 000 refugees returned to Mali. Out of the 34 000 remaining, about 1 000 per month are anticipated to return.

CEREAL SUPPLY/DEMAND BALANCE FOR THE 1995/96 MARKETING YEAR (in thousand tons)

	Wheat	Rice	Coarse grains	Total
Normal production	-	37	88	125
Normal imports (incl. re-exports)	170	75	8	253
of which: Structural food aid	40	10	8	58
1995/96 Domestic availability	-	41	139	180
1995 Production	-	36	139	175
Possible stock drawdown	-	5	-	5
1995/96 Utilization	168	121	139	428
Food use	127	115	12	354
of which: Local purchase requirement	(-)	(-)	(5)	(5)
Non-food use	26	4	22	52
Re-exports	10	2	5	17
Possible stock build up	5	-	-	5
1995/96 Import Requirement	170 1/	80	-	250 1/
Anticipated commercial imports	130 1/	70	-	200 1/
Food aid needs	40	10	-	50
Current Aid Position
Food aid pledges	8	3	5	16
of which: Delivered	8	3	3	14
Donor-financed local purchases	-	-	3	3
Estimated per caput consumption (kg/year)	55	50	49	154
Indexes
1995 production as % of normal:				140
1995/96 import requirement as % of normal:				99
1995/96 food aid requirement as % of normal (including refugee needs):				86

1/ Including 10 000 tons of re-exports.

FAO/GIEWS - April 1996