Hail and Thundersnow Devastate Moroccan Watermelon Crops, Farmers Face Crisis

The province of Zagora and some neighboring areas have recently been hit by an unusual wave of hail and thundersnow, which covered vast areas with a white blanket, causing significant damage to agricultural crops, particularly watermelon, which is one of the pillars of agricultural activity in the region, confirmed MP Hussein Ouallal in a written question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari.

According to him, heavy damage has also affected date palms, which could negatively impact the production capacity of these crops during the current agricultural season. Farmers have suffered heavy losses, especially in a context where these crops represent the only source of income for hundreds of families active in this vital sector, the elected official specified.

Ouallal then questions the minister about the measures and provisions his department plans to take in terms of assessing the damage and compensating farmers for the heavy losses caused by the wave of hail and thundersnow that affected their crops, such as watermelon, date palms and wheat, in certain areas of the southeast of the Kingdom, and more particularly in the province of Zagora.