Late start to the farming season is prolonging the lean season

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Typically, September marks the start of the harvest for the rainfed crops, generally getting underway by mid-month, followed by the main harvest period from the beginning of October. However, the delayed start to the current agricultural season combined with localized rainfall breaks has disrupted the progress of the season. In the rainfed zone, cereal crops and legumes are only at the bolting and heading stages. In the southern departments of Trarza Wilaya, in particular, erratic rainfall is likely to have disrupted crop growth, reducing yields. In a typical year, households should have early harvests of early millet and cowpea by this time, which would enable them to improve their food consumption and be less dependent on the market. Without this, most households are expected to remain in Stressed (IPC Phase 2), with the poorest households in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) until mid-October, when the main harvest begins.
The regeneration of pasture is also delayed across the country, and particularly in pastoral areas where development remains below normal. Given this delay, pastoral conditions remain mediocre in the west, center, and north of the country, slowing the return of herders to these areas. As a result, the majority of the national migratory herd remains concentrated in the rainfed and agropastoral zones where conditions remain favorable. Late herd migrations could increase the risk of conflict between farmers and herders.
Markets are well-supplied with imported foods, but the availability of local cereals and beans remains low, forcing poorer households to rely on imported products such as rice and wheat at higher prices. According to ANSADE, food prices in August were stable overall, including for imported foods (1.2 percent in monthly variation and 1.3 percent in annual variation). In rural livestock markets the supply of animals is relatively low. While slow, the improved pastoral conditions are encouraging livestock farmers to reduce destocking, leading to a stabilization of prices for small ruminants. On the other hand, livestock prices on urban markets have fallen due to the typically low demand at this time of year. However, some markets on the border with Senegal, notably Boghé and Kaédi, were experiencing high demand due to Senegalese holidays of Magal de Touba and Maouloud.
The deteriorating security situation along the Malian border continues to drive an influx of Malian refugees and Mauritanian returnees into Hodh El Chargui and Hodh El Garbi. In August, UNHCR estimated that 8,700 new refugees had arrived in Hodh el Chargui, bringing the cumulative total of refugees to over 270,000. Some 138,000 of these refugees are living outside the Mbera camp, putting further pressure on the area's natural resources and livelihoods. For the over 110,000 people living in the crowded camp, the WFP provided cash assistance to 76,460 people and specialized nutritious food to 290 pregnant and breast-feeding women and girls to treat moderate acute malnutrition in July.

Recommended citation: FEWS NET. Mauritania Key Message Update September 2024: Late start to the farming season is prolonging the lean season, 2024.

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