Figure 1. Livelihood zones of Mauritania FULL-SIZE IMAGE Source: FEWS NET

Imports of coarse grain from Mali to Mauritania have increased. However, this increase has not yet had a significant impact on the supply of grain in rural markets, which is already low, nor on price levels, which are high compared with the same time last year. The depletion of village-level food security reserves (SAVS) has decreased grain availability in rural zones 4, 5, 6 and 7 (see Figure 1), leaving many farming and agropastoralist households in these areas once again dependent on local markets. As a result, the food security of these households has deteriorated, exacerbated by the water access problems associated with the ongoing hunger period.

Food security levels are still normal for this time of year, with pastoralists facing moderate food insecurity and farmers facing high levels of food insecurity. However, food security is expected to deteriorate faster than normal this year given the lack of household grain reserves due to last year’s production shortfalls, shortages in SAVS programs, the high prices of commercially marketed food products and the earlier-than-usual departure of some migratory pastoralists. Despite these factors, Mauritania is not currently facing a food crisis, but the current assistance programs need to be continued to prevent such a crisis, particularly for the farming population.

Migration from rural areas to major cities (Nouakchott, Nouadhibou and Zouerate) is beginning, and pastoral populations are seasonally moving out of pastoral/agropastoral areas (in zones 2, 4 and 5) to pasturelands in southwestern Mali and northeastern Senegal.

With the exception of large-scale herders, all other socioeconomic groups around the country have had to realign their food access strategies in the face of increases in market food prices. This heavy pressure on household income could force some households to resort to selling off productive assets. The continued reliance on such a strategy could have long-term negative impacts on the food security of these population groups. In the short term, according to regional Food Security Commission offices, the increases in market prices are causing poor households to rely on coping strategies including skipping meals, decreasing food intake and consuming inferior-quality foods.

Conditions in farming areas

Off-season market-gardening crops are almost fully mature. This year, a total of 1,023 hectares were planted with crops (including 234 hectares of market-gardening crops), compared with last year’s figure of 1,342 hectares (including 340 hectares of market-gardening crops), which was already down sharply from 2005. Mauritania continues to rely on imports of grain and vegetables from North Africa and Europe to meet the needs of its population.

Conditions in pastoral areas

The deterioration in pasturelands and, more importantly, serious water-access problems have impacted pastoral areas. Many agropastoralists and cattle herders are already in Mali and Senegal with their animals. Others, looking to increase milk sales or avoid the shortages of pasture and limited water access during periods of seasonal migration in Senegal and Mali, have chosen to settle in for the season along main roads and adjacent to urban areas. Camel drivers have returned to grazing areas in the central and southern part of the country. Households with dairy-based livelihoods, mainly cattle herders and camel drivers, have also decided against seasonal migration, moving their herds close to transport routes instead. In the south, animal herds moving eastwards are creating an overgrazing problem, which is destroying the small reserves of pasture normally used to feed sheep and goat herds unable to migrate. Overgrazing is forcing herders unable to migrate to thin out their herds and increase animal sales to purchase enough animal feed to save the rest of the herd.

This pressure on the land from grazing animals is exacerbated by brush fires fueled by strong winds. Despite all these factors, animal health conditions are still good. However, there are reports of cases of night blindness among migrating cattle herds, which are likely caused by vitamin deficiencies.

Market conditions

The prices of foods in rural areas are higher than last month and above the five-year average. Prices in urban areas for the same products show very little change from April. Mauritanian grain traders are in the process of replenishing their inventories with Malian imports in anticipation of possible local procurements by the government and the donor community and heavy demand at the beginning of the rainy season for seeds and consumption, which are expected to drive up prices. So far, the inventory replenishment has had only a limited effect on market supplies. Imports of North African and European fruits and vegetables remain the primary determinant of food availability and prices, both of which are currently unfavorable for household access.

Animal prices are beginning to decrease sharply from previous months. This decline in livestock prices is mainly a result of a large increase in supply; the shortages in SAVS programs are forcing pastoral and agropastoral households to purchase on local markets where food prices are significantly higher, thereby causing them to increase animal sales to have sufficient income to purchase the equivalent of what they could afford to buy in a SAVS program. For example, a sack of wheat in a SAVS program in Bababé Department cost between 2,500 and 3,000 UM, but currently sells for between 7,000 and 8,000 UM in rural market stalls. However, with the current pattern of migration by herders, livestock prices are expected to increase in the weeks ahead.

While grain imports from Mali are expected to increase even further before the beginning of the rainy season, this does not necessarily mean that prices will decrease. In fact, the rapid deterioration in pastoral conditions and the increase in the price of animal feed (up by 20 UM between April and May) will only increase demand from herders that decided to settle in for the season rather than migrate. This decision to not migrate could cause them to resort to buying wheat to feed their animals, which would drive up the price of this grain that, along with rice, is one of the two staples of household diets.

Plant health conditions

Plant health conditions are currently stable throughout the country.

Food security status

This hunger period is increasingly more difficult than normal for many households, as a result of:

• Limited household food availability
• Shortages in many SAVS programs
• Declining prices for small animals (which are the main source of household cash income at this time of year)
• Earlier-than-usual seasonal migration, depriving pastoral households of an important food source
• Diversion of grain imports to urban markets
• Water access problems

Ongoing assistance programs have helped to prevent a severe deterioration in food security, but it is imperative to keep such programs going to prevent a food crisis from occurring, particularly for poor farming families. Households in at-risk areas are relying on traditional coping strategies, the most common of which involve selling small animals, purchasing food supplies from SAVS programs (where they exist), borrowing, out-migration and skipping meals (normally the evening meal). Contributions from Saudi Arabia and the United States should enable WFP to keep its programs up and running until September.