Drought triggers agricultural shift as Moroccan farmers uproot fruit trees amid climate strain

Morocco’s agricultural sector is facing unprecedented strain as prolonged drought conditions force farmers to uproot water-thirsty fruit trees in a bid to adapt to diminishing water resources.

The crisis signals a potential structural transformation in Moroccan agriculture and raises serious concerns about food security and future production trends.

Key stakeholders warn that the uprooting of orchards is no longer a temporary response, but rather a long-term adjustment strategy. The move threatens the availability of key crops such as apples, citrus fruits, and other water-dependent produce on the local market—particularly if irrigation shortages persist.

Hamid Salhi, an agricultural advisor and head of the Tanwir Association, explained that extreme weather patterns over the past decade—including low rainfall, hot eastern winds, and severely depleted dams and aquifers—have particularly affected fruit trees. In an interview with Hespress AR, Salhi noted that apple trees require more than 1,200 liters of water annually per tree, making them increasingly unsustainable under current conditions.

Regions like Fès and Midelt, once renowned for their apple production, have seen widespread uprooting of orchards. In Fès, formerly a hub for orange and apple cultivation, farmers are turning to short-cycle vegetable crops that can be irrigated using recently drilled wells.

Salhi emphasized that the shift toward vegetable farming is a pragmatic response to water scarcity, aimed at minimizing financial losses as fruit trees fail to meet their hydration needs. The trend reflects a broader erosion of agricultural biodiversity and marks a transition in farming patterns dictated by survival rather than choice.

Midelt, a major apple-producing province, has reportedly lost hundreds of hectares of orchards over the past three years due to reduced rainfall and rising temperatures. Farmers are now focusing on vegetables like potatoes, onions, and carrots, which have become the new staple of regional agricultural output.

Kamal Aberkani, an expert in agricultural science and engineering from the Multidisciplinary Faculty of Nador, corroborated these findings. He warned that long-term crops such as olives, citrus, grapes, and stone fruits are becoming economically unviable. These crops require significant investment and years before yielding returns, which is now too risky amid worsening drought.

Aberkani stressed that while some species like olives are more drought-tolerant, even they have suffered severe production declines in non-irrigated (bour) regions after six to seven years of water scarcity. The result: lower yields and soaring prices, particularly for staples like olive oil.

Production costs have also risen sharply due to increased input prices and energy costs, compounding the crisis for already strained farmers. Citrus production in Berkane, which once contributed nearly 22% of Morocco’s national output, has plummeted due to escalating maintenance costs—up to 50,000 MAD per hectare—with many farmers unable to break even.

Grape cultivation, another high-investment crop, faces similar risks. Costs range between 70,000 and 100,000 MAD per hectare, yet many farmers now face total losses due to lack of water, prompting abandonment of the activity.

As a way forward, Aberkani recommended targeted support for fruit cultivation in irrigated areas, including water subsidies and upgraded irrigation systems. He also urged cautious reforestation based on localized climate and water conditions to avoid replicating past mistakes.

The unfolding agricultural crisis is yet another indicator of how climate change is reshaping Morocco’s rural landscape—threatening livelihoods, reducing crop diversity, and challenging national strategies for food resilience and economic stability.