FOOD SECURITY SNAPSHOT
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Irregular rains affected crops and pasture in 2014
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Humanitarian assistance continues to be needed, including for Malian refugees
Cereal production affected by irregular rains
Growing conditions for rain-fed crops and pastures have been poor in several parts of the country, due to irregular rains at the beginning of the cropping season in June/July which delayed plantings and subsequent erratic precipitation through August. Dieri (rain-fed) production, which represents about one-fourth of total cereal production in a normal year, is most affected. However, the drop in Dieri (rain-fed) production has been offset by an increased output of irrigated crops. As a result, a joint CILSS/FAO/WFP Crop Assessment Mission, which visited the country recently, estimated 2014 aggregate cereal production at some 301 000 tonnes, slightly below last year’s harvest but 17 percent above average. However, the erratic rains affected pasture regeneration and water points’ level in several pastoral areas of the country, notably in Hodh El Chargui, Hodh El Ghrabi, Brakna and Tagant regions.