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extends back froa the river 20 to 50 kI. in addition to sorghum and aillat,
m rice and vegetables are grown on seasonally flooded lands. According
to the DAP, 20 per=ent of the population of Mauritania lives in the valley,
and it produces 80 percent of the country's food grains. Several major irriga­
tion schemes are in various stages of development planning. The valley is also
an important dry season grazing area for the transhumant herds of centrPl and
western Mauritania.
B. History of A.I.D. Tzvolvement
A.I.D. 's role in providing extensive bilateral development assistance to
the rural sector of Mauritania dates from early 1973. It became apparent at
the time that substantial assistance from A.I.D. and other donors in the
international community was needed in order to plan and implement programs and
projects that would lead to sustained economic growth and social and political
stabiliS.y in face of the enormous difficulties resulting from the 1968-74
drought.
The initial A.I.D. efforts in Mauritania were confined to emergency measures
undertaken in FY 73. These bilateral efforts, which were stop-gap in nature,
were initiated to prevent starvation and to reduce diseases stemming from
nutritional deficiencies. A.I.D.'s commitment 6f foodstuffs was initially
15,000 metric tons, supplemented by 48,250 metric tons, 4,000 metric tons and
5,500 metric tons respectively, during 1974, 1975 and 1976. During FY 74, A.I.D.
contributed non-food emergency assistance in the form of medicines and vehicles
valued at $252,000. In the same year A.I.D. also negotiated the Sahel Drought
Recovery and Rehabilitation Program with the Government of Mauritania. A total
of $2.915 million dollars was obligated in fiscal years 1974, 1975 and 1976