‘God have mercy’ agriculture minister paints grim picture of a difficult growing season

Little rain, and distressingly low levels of water stored across Moroccan dams have signaled the beginning of yet another harsh agricultural season, Minister of Agriculture, Mohamed Sadiki warned in the upper house.

Rainfall recorded since October amounted to a scanty 21.8 mm, a deficit of 45 percent compared to an average year, but it is still 25 percent better than last year.

Dams, however, have the lowest stockpile of water stored in Morocco for a decade.

The ministry has already distributed 533 million cubic meters of reservoir water to agricultural land, a volume which the minister considered “very small,” but which also leaves reservoir levels currently standing at 3.2 billion cubic meters, or only 24 percent, 32 percent less than last season .

“God have mercy on us,” the minister, explaining that to cope with the stress areas like Laarache and the plains of Gharb will have determined periods when water can be made available for irrigation.

Areas in northeast Morocco.Muassa, near Moulouya and Moulay Ali Sharif will have temporary supply of water, but irrigation in other areas has been permanently stopped. This involves Doukkala, Al Haouz, Draa, Tadla and areas near Baht river.

Priority, said the minister, is given to growing lands of fruit trees and main crops, noting that the area expected to be planted nationally this year will be within 417 thousand hectares.

‘Better than nothing’

Although last year grain production slumped by 67 percent, vegetable production remained stable, citrus production increased by 14 percent, olive production increased by 21 percent, said the minister.

While both honey and milk produced in Morocco dropped, meat production increased by 4 percent, and poultry remained stable.

Exports of agricultural products during the last agricultural season amounted to 3 million tons, compared to 2.5 million tons previously, and were directed mainly to the markets of the European Union, the United Kingdom, North America and Russia.
Citrus exports rose to 766,000 tons, an increase of 40 percent, and vegetable exports increased by 13 percent compared to the previous year.