A shipment of wheat from Russia’s Chelyabinsk region, heading to Morocco, has been found to contain harmful pests.
The batch included several weed seeds like field bindweed and blue foxtail, which are dangerous for crops and considered a quarantine risk in many countries, including Morocco.
While these pests aren’t a problem in Russia, they pose a serious threat to local farming in places like Morocco.
“In an export batch of food and feed wheat, which included grain from the Chelyabinsk region, we found items that aren’t quarantined in Russia but are in several big countries that import our grain. This batch was meant to be shipped to Morocco,” the press service of the Ural Interregional Administration of Rosselkhoznadzor told local media.
Last year, authorities in Russia warned farmers in Chelyabinsk about similar issues, sending out 83 warnings about these types of pests.
Russia has been a key supplier of wheat to Morocco for several years. In fact, Russia is one of the top exporters of wheat to Morocco, alongside other countries like France and Ukraine.
In 2024, Morocco imported around 1.5 million tons of wheat, and Russia contributed a significant portion of that.
The wheat exports to Morocco have been growing steadily, with Russia sending nearly 800,000 tons in 2023 alone.
This makes Russia a major player in Morocco’s wheat supply, especially considering Morocco’s growing demand for wheat due to its agricultural needs and population growth.
Morocco’s wheat production faced difficulties due to drought conditions, resulting in a reduced harvest. This shortage has made imports more crucial, with Russia stepping in to help meet the demand.
The growing trade between Russia and Morocco is clear from a deal signed in November 2024, which aims to make it easier for Russian wheat to reach Morocco.
Looking ahead, Russia plans to boost wheat exports to Morocco to 1.5 million tons, driven by the rising demand and the success of the ongoing trade efforts.
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