Drought Slashes Morocco’s Cereal Harvest by 69%, Raising Food Security Concerns

This production results from the decrease in the sown areas, reaching around 3.6 million hectares for the 3 cereal species, indicates a note from the Ministry of Agriculture, which specifies that the soft wheat harvest is 17.6 million Qx, that of durum wheat at 7.5 million Qx and 6.9 million Qx for barley.

This yield is unevenly distributed, it is noted. More than 60% of production comes from the favorable areas of the Fès-Meknès and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra regions. Cereals in irrigated areas contributed only about 20% to total production, due to irrigation restrictions in these perimeters.

On the other hand, other crops have grown in volume. Indeed, overall, the rains accumulated since the beginning of March have contributed to the restoration of the vegetation cover to a normal level and ensured the good progress of the spring crops, notes the same source.

According to the ministry, this last agricultural season was hit by low rainfall which reached 188 mm at the end of April, a 42% drop compared to the previous season (289 mm) at the same date. In addition to the weakness of the rainfall and its delay, the rainfall profile was also characterized by a poor temporal and territorial distribution.