FAMINE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM NETWORK u MAURITANIA USAID Project managed by Chemonics International Inc. TEL: (222) 25 39 18 FAX: (222) 25 39 18 Email: [email protected] Monthly Report for February-March 2001 March 25, 2001 Summary In Trarza, Brakna, and Gorgol Wilayas, the harvest of the lowland (bas-fonds) and irrigated areas is now completed. In Assaba and in both Hodhs, the harvest in the lowlands is in progress and could extend until the end of March. Technical staff of the Ministry of Rural Development and Environment (MDRE) agree that the rainfed cereal production (dieri) was generally very good. In contrast, in the walo (flood recession) areas, sorghum production was not as good as in the past two years because of the decrease in flooded areas, the drying up of the late-sown crops, and lower yields. Prices of local cereals, which are very high at this time of the year, show that productivity improvements are not equally distributed among all areas and that, at the regional and national le vels, there is a strong demand for cereals. Bird damage to lowland crops was very heavy and caused considerable losses. The secondary cowpeas crop was not good in the walo and, to avert losses from wandering cattle, farmers had to harvest their cowpeas before the end of the cycle so they could sell it to agro-pastoralists who raise animals at home. Vegetable crops are near maturation and the production appears to be significant. But because fresh produce cannot be preserved, women farmers have no choice but to sell their crops at low prices. The livestock situation is still good despite the increasing number of bush fires in the Hodhs, Assaba, and Guidimakha. Herders are not too concerned by bush fires because they and their animals relocated toward southern Aïoun El Atrouss Moughataa (to get closer to the main roads) and toward Mali. Some outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and small ruminant pests were reported in Guérou and Kiffa Moughataas in Assaba. In the Hodh El Chargui, annual cereal production (dieri and lowlands) can cover all the needs of the Wilaya. However, farmers in southeastern Bassikounou Moughataa (Fassala Néré Arrondissement) and southern Amourj Moughataa (Adel Bagrou Arrondissement) as well as livestock herders of the Dahr of northeastern Bassikounou must get their cereal supplies by borrowing or buying from the markets. In the Hodh El Gharbi, only the producing zones of southeastern Kobonni Moughataa and of Touil in southern Tintane Moughataa (where the lowland crops yielded very little) might have to consider bringing in local cereals. In principle, good harvests in Affolé and active trade with the producting zones in Mali should allow for sufficient availability of cereals. In Trarza, Brakna, and Gorgol, the big jump in sorghum prices in the main producing area markets reflects the mediocre annual cereal production. Some local government officials (the hakhem of Bababé) and municipalities (the mayors of the communes of Aéré M’Bar and M’Bagne) already raised the alarm by sending emergency requests for food to the Food Security Commission (CSA). 2 In urban areas, no actions were taken in February that might alleviate the high cost of food prices. Despite recent stabilization of prices, food prices remain high and many households must skip meals to get by. Donors have not yet responded to the government’s emergency request, made in February, for 20,000 MT of food aid. I: REVIEW OF FOOD CRISES IN MAURITANIA The lowland areas are seeing a mixed improvement in their food situation. In many pockets of both Hodhs, production was not enough to play its role in covering annual cereal needs. Therefore, farmhouseholds such as those in producing areas of the Senegal River Valley are forced to find other means for obtaining food for themselves. In Adrar and in the southern areas of Trarza, vegetable gardening is helping improve food availability and farm household incomes. In the shantytowns of Nouakchott, the food situation of low-income households is deteriorating I.A. Diminishing Crises The seasonal availability of cereals is still satisfactory in the Aftout where, despite cereal traders coming from the Valley to buy supplies, cereal prices recorded an increase of only 20 UM over February prices. At Magta-Lahjar, the major cereal market in the East Aftout, one moud (4 kg) of sorghum was sold for 200 UM as compared with 180 UM in February. In 1999, the after-harvest price increase was 120 UM. In one month, the price of one moud went from 160 UM to 280 UM. Prices for secondary products remain very high. One moud of cowpea sells for 300 UM, but the traded quantities are very low because many farmers keep their surplus production for their own household consumption. This means the vulnerability level is still declining in the production areas of Aftout, Brakna (Aleg and Magta-Lahjar), Gorgol (Monguel and M’Bout), and Assaba (Barkéol). The livestock situation remains good despite the increasing number of bush fires in the Hodhs, Assaba, and eastern Guidimakha. Migratory movements are following the usual pattern, except for herdersin the northern part of Bassikounou, where pastures are not good, and in areas of Touil, where herders are compelled to make detours aroundthe bush fires. However, these migratory deviations are risky, especially inGuidimakha and centralAssaba, where the lack of water will force herders closer to permanent watering points. In southern Trarza and in Adrar, current sales of vegetables bring significant cash income to households that invested in this business. In Adrar, only households in the oases of Aoujeft and Atar Moughataas are growing vegetables to supply markets in Nouakchott, Zouérate, and Nouadhibou. I.B. Continuing Crises Sadly, nothing has been able to reverse the deterioration of the food situation in the Bora area (in southern Arrondissement of Mâle in Aleg Moughataa in Brakna). Faced with a crop production deficit (although less significant than in 1999/2000), the population’s only remaining option is to leave.. Because of this area’s isolation, transportation is insufficient and costly, resulting in very high prices for marketed food products. Imported rice sells for 130 UM/kg, and wheat for 80 UM/kg. Irregular rainfall has limited the amount of wild food that can be collected. Annual production of jujube, boscia , and balanites are insignificant. The only informal economic sector still active is the sale of wood and charcoal. 3 In the Senegal River Valley, farmers have already entered a long hungry season, with no means in sight for alleviating it. Because of significant constraints on the irrigated sector, there is little chance that farmers will cultivate off-season crops in the present hot season. In many communities, small children already show signs of malnutrition. The hakhem of Bababé and the mayors of Aéré M’Bar and M’Bagne have already sent emergency food aid requests to the Food Security Commission (CSA). In Gorgol Wilaya, the situation started to deteriorate in southwestern Monguel Moughataa, where the early departure of the livestock for the pastures of Hadad (southeastern Kaëdi Moughataa) left herder household members staying behind without their normal milk and meat supplies. In the northern part of this Moughataa, despite exceptional lowlands harvests, farmers are unable to supply markets in southern deficit areas because they had to use a good part of this production to reimburse previous years’ debts to traders. In the eastern part of the R’Kiz Moughataa, the food situation is still a concern due to credit proble ms (some farmers have huge debts accumulated over three years) as well as problems with the forestry service, which is preventing farmers from cutting and burning wood for making charcoal. As a result, able -bodied men and women have left, looking for work elsewhere. Prices of basic food items and meat stabilized in the peri-urban areas of Nouakchott and Nouadhibou following January price increases and the hike in gasoline prices from 104.1 UM/liter to 119.1 UM/liter. Price reports fromthe CSA do not show a significant increase for these products. On the other hand, the price of fish increased significantly, probably due to a drop in supply after many fish traders who are Senegalese returned home for the Tabaski holiday. A 3 to 4-kg mullet that sold la st month for 200 to 300 UM now sells for 200 UM per kg (which means a mullet now sells for at least 600 UM). The price of 1 kg of sea bream (dorade) is around 400 UM, while 1 kg of first quality fish (capitaine [polynemidae], mérou [serranidae] and others) costs between 800 and 1,000 UM. II: FOOD CONDITIONS and OUTLOOK The market system is functioning well, making cereals widely available around the country. However, in the short term, there is no relief in sight to ease the large production deficit in the Senegal River Valley, and farmers there are likely to be forced into buying their cereals from the market in the absence of other options. In southern Trarza as well as in Atar and Aoujeft Moughataas, the vegetable season will end soon. Although many farmers had significant income from the sales of vegetable crops, this income will not cover their food needs before the next date harvest. Unfortunately, some deficit areas in the Hodhs, Assaba, and Aftout will not be able to rely on the regional surpluses because many traders coming from Nouakchott offer higher prices well beyond the purchasing power of the local population. Except for the Republic of China and Japan, which intervened with their bilateral annual food programs, donors still have not responded to the Government’s emergency request made in February for 20,000 MT.