Years of drought and declining dam levels in Morocco are forcing farmers to uprooting their fruit trees, a drastic action comes after agricultural centers couldn’t provide irrigation due to limited water reserves.
According to the Ministry of Equipment and Water, dam capacity has shrunk to a concerning 29.6%, down from 31% last year.
This shortage significantly impacts irrigation cycles, a lifeline for many crops.
Professor Abdullah Aboudrar of the National School of Agriculture confirms witnessing this “unfortunate phenomenon” firsthand, particularly in southern regions like Al Haouz and Kelaat Sraghna.
Even drought-resistant trees like argan are suffering, but the situation is especially dire for irrigated crops like citrus trees. With no alternative, farmers are forced to uproot them.
Eastern regions like Nador and Driouch have seen months of protests as farmers demand irrigation.
Regions like Beni Mellal, Doukkala, and Moulouya have been hit particularly hard, losing a significant portion of their olive and citrus groves.
This situation aligns with comments by Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Sadiki, who previously predicted a 20% loss of cultivated land due to drought, although , recent updates in the House of Advisors suggest an even more concerning figure – a 31% decrease compared to last year.
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