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Rabat – The volume of rainfall saw a moderate 9% annual uptick in 2024, reaching 224 millimeters up to April, said Agriculture Minister Mohamed Sadiki on Monday.
The increase, although promising, remains 27% lower than the average of the last 30 years, indicative of the ongoing challenges posed by erratic weather patterns, he explained
According to Minister Sadiki, despite the increase, the total reservoir capacity utilized in agriculture currently stands at 31%, slightly lower than the previous year’s 32%.
Addressing the House of Councillors, Minister Sadiki outlined the consequences of the rainfall patterns on various agricultural activities. Large irrigated areas have seen a reduction in water allocation, with only 680 million cubic meters available for the current season, marking a 44% decrease in the irrigable area compared to previous years.
The rain deficit took a toll on crops, as sown areas in autumn and winter shrank, with cereals being the hardest hit by the trend. Land allocated to cultivating cereals contracted by 31% compared to normal campaigns.
While recent precipitation in certain regions offers hope for cereal production improvement, in some provinces like Doukkala and Tadla, irrigation remains unavailable.
Minister Sadiki also emphasized the government’s efforts to alleviate the burden on farmers through unprecedented price subsidies for agricultural inputs such as seeds, fertilizers, and animal feed.
In terms of financial aid, Morocco has allocated MAD 2.2 billion ($216 million) for nitrogen fertilizers, alongside substantial distributions of subsidized seeds, totaling MAD 140 million ($13.9 million) in assistance to date. These measures aim to reduce production costs and prices, benefiting approximately 18,000 producers across the country.
The climate-induced rain deficit is posing a significant challenge to Morocco’s socio-economic aspirations, with the country grappling to meet the needs of its largely rain-dependent agriculture.
Read Also: Heavy Rainfall to Continue in Several Moroccan Provinces
