Rabat – The Moroccan government and experts have been expressing concerns about the drought situation in Morocco despite the latest rainfall that revived the country’s water sources.
Despite the drought, however, new data show that the dry seasons did not affect the country’s tomato exports, which saw an increase of 19% year over year, with 58% being non-round tomatoes.
Fresh Plaza quoted deputy managing director of the Delassus Group, Fatiha Charat, who said Moroccan tomato exports reached 690,000 tons this season and the UK imported 122,720 tons last year.
“Morocco exports to 46 countries, with the UK alone representing 18% of the total,” Charrat said, explaining that Moroccan produce can now go through other European markets instead of being routed via French importers.
The Moroccan tomato now goes directly from Morocco to Germany, she explained, noting that direct shipments between the two countries have grown remarkably, rising from 69,800 tons in 2023 to 98,400 tons in 2024.
The expert commended Morocco’s government efforts to help with the drought through investment in desalination, as the Souss Massa desalination plant supplies 40% of Agadir’s water needs.
“Disalinated water is three times more expensive than well water,” she explained.
Experts have stressed how the recent fall Morocco witnessed during March will not end the water stress crisis.
They indeed brought relief to many regions and increased dam levels, but are unable to mend the crisis that six years of drought caused to Morocco’s produce.
Morocco’s government has been introducing measures to tackle the drought situation, with the latest bold decision to cancel Eid Al Adha sacrifice rituals to help rescue the livestock population.
In March, Morocco implemented a ban on the slaughter of female sheep and goats until the end of March 2026.
The decision is due to the consecutive droughts that impacted the national herd of sheep and goats, resulting in a 38% decrease in livestock numbers compared to 2016.
Minister of Agriculture Ahmed El Bouari said the decision is part of a broader national strategy to restructure the sector and address the challenges posed by climate change and economic factors.
