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Agriculture

Morocco's Cereal Harvest Faces Arid Blow, Poised for Precipitous Plunge

Monday 27 May 2024 - 10:45

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In a sobering revelation, Morocco's cereal harvest for the 2023/2024 agricultural season is poised to plummet by a staggering 43%, plunging to a mere 31.2 million quintals, according to the latest update from the Ministry of Agriculture. This grim forecast casts a pall over the nation's agricultural landscape, as climatic adversities take a toll on the nation's breadbasket.

The ministry's data paints a vivid picture of the impending scarcity, with the area sown shrinking by a third, now spanning a modest 2.47 million hectares, of which only 1.85 million hectares are harvestable. The breakdown of this season's production is a tale of diminished yields, with soft wheat contributing 17.5 million quintals, durum wheat trailing at 7.1 million quintals, and barley limping along at 6.6 million quintals.

The regions of Fez-Meknes, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra, and Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, which have traditionally been the backbone of Morocco's agricultural prowess, account for a staggering 84% of the nation's total production, bearing the brunt of this arid onslaught.

The Ministry's data further underscores the gravity of the situation, revealing that as of May 22, cumulative rainfall stood at a mere 237 millimeters, a dismal 31% below the annual average. Agricultural dams, the lifeline of Morocco's fertile lands, are filled to a paltry 31% capacity, exacerbating the precariousness of the situation.

However, amidst the gloom, a glimmer of hope emerges for arboricultural and vegetable crops, as improved weather conditions from February onwards have enabled vegetable production to reach a respectable 5.6 million tons. The agricultural sector, undeterred by the adversities, continues to ensure a steady supply to the national market, bolstered by the ministry's climate mitigation programs.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) within the US Department of Agriculture has issued a report forecasting a significant surge in imports for the 2024-25 season. The FAS predictions align closely with those of the Agriculture Ministry, projecting a 45% annualized nosedive in cereal production.

Alarmingly, the FAS predicts a staggering 52% spike in wheat imports, totaling a colossal 7.5 million tonnes, dwarfing Morocco's ten-year import average. This looming import deluge underscores the nation's vulnerability to global market fluctuations and supply chain disruptions.

In response to the mounting instability and payment issues with Black Sea suppliers, domestic importers are proactively diversifying their procurement strategies, seeking to mitigate the risks posed by an increasingly volatile global agricultural landscape.

As the nation braces for the impending arid blow, the resilience of Morocco's agricultural sector will be put to the test, as it navigates the intricate web of climatic adversities, import dependencies, and the ever-evolving challenges of a world grappling with the specters of food insecurity and resource scarcity.