As September begins, Morocco’s farmlands are coming alive with tractors and agricultural machinery as farmers across the country prepare for a new season that many hope will surpass the difficulties of previous years.
Fields are being plowed and readied for sowing, with grain planting expected to start in October, while certain crops will be sown later this month.
Rachid El Ghazoui, a member of a farming cooperative in the Loukkos region, told Hespress that “plowing has been underway for days, and farmers are busy preparing for the new season. We pray for enough rain to ensure a successful harvest.”
He noted that irrigated zones are gearing up for crops such as sugar beet, alfalfa and oats, while other cultivations like sugarcane, peas, beans, parsley, turnips and broad beans have already begun.
Activity is expected to intensify in the coming weeks as autumn sowing approaches, particularly for cereals and pulses, which cover large rain-fed areas. Commenting on this dynamic, agricultural expert and consultant Riad Ouchtita explained that “the rainfall recorded last March restored some confidence among farmers and reduced fears generated by consecutive years of drought.”
However, he stressed that production
has been shrinking not only because of drought but also due to reduced cultivated areas. He pointed to the Ministry of Agriculture’s strategy of direct seeding as a key technique to preserve soil moisture, adapt to climate volatility and reduce production costs.
Ouchtita emphasized that drought is only part of broader climate changes that are altering seasonal cycles and rainfall timing.
“These changes have reshaped Morocco’s farming map,” he said, noting that western and northern regions now account for more than 80 percent of grain production, whereas Abda and Doukkala were once the main breadbaskets.
He called for comprehensive regional studies to determine the best timing, crop varieties and agricultural models for each area to safeguard farmers against mounting risks.
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