Rabat – New data, shared by agriculture-focused website Hortoinfo, shows that Morocco’s watermelon exports to France have soared to reach 155% increase over the last decade.
The data compiled by COMTRADE said that Morocco’s watermelon sales to France reached a remarkable increase of 155% between 2015 and 2024.
The statistics show that Morocco’s exports to France jumped from 23.96 million kilograms in 2015 to 61.13 million kilograms in 2024.
The UK also bought 9.94 million kilos of watermelon from Morocco, while Spain imported 28.7 million kilos of the same produce last year.
The data comes as Morocco has been grappling with a severe drought for at least six seasons in a row.
Watermelons are part of a series of water-thirsty crops that Morocco still produces amid drought. During the fruit development phase, watermelons require consistent watering. Watermelons need about 1-2 inches of water per week during the development phase.
To tackle drought, Morocco has been implementing a series of measures, like campaigns to ensure the rational use of water.
Morocco also took several bold measures, including canceling the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual and banning the slaughtering of female sheep and goats to ensure herd reproduction.
Several reports have shed light on the severe situation linked to water stress in the North African kingdom
A study by the US-based National Drought Mitigation Center last month identified Morocco among the harvest-hot countries in the Mediterranean basin
The study, carried out in partnership with the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, shows that drought has long defined Morocco’s climate
Dry weather became more persistent in the country since the early 1900s
The report further indicates that Morocco “should become more arid over the 21st century.”
