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.