Morocco Grapples With Severe Drought as Water and Crop Resources Decline

Tuesday 03 December 2024 - 17:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco Grapples With Severe Drought as Water and Crop Resources Decline

Morocco is facing an unprecedented water crisis, with rainfall at historic lows and water reserves plummeting by 75%. This alarming situation has left the country scrambling to secure food supplies as agricultural output suffers.

The national rainfall average ranged between just 31 mm and 627 mm this year, significantly below normal levels. Data from the Ministry of Equipment and Water revealed deficits across all major basins:

Loukkos Basin: 7% decrease (smallest nationwide) Sebou Basin: 27% deficit Bouregreg and Chaouia Basins: 41% drop Moulouya Basin: 48% decrease Oum Er-Rbia and Tensift Basins: Both down 44% Souss-Massa Basin: 58% decline Drâa and Oued Noun Basin: A staggering 76% drop

Adding to the challenge, groundwater—often a fallback during droughts—is also depleting at an alarming rate. Key aquifers have seen dramatic declines, with drops ranging from 3.72 meters in Souss to nearly 7 meters in Gharb.

To mitigate the crisis, Moroccan authorities have initiated agreements for the sustainable management of groundwater in regions such as Souss, Haouz-M’ghat, and Figuig, with plans to expand these measures further. These initiatives aim to slow overuse and safeguard essential water resources.

Meanwhile, the drought has severely impacted Morocco's agricultural sector. Wheat harvests fell by 40% this year, yielding just 2.47 million tons—the lowest since 2007-2008. Barley output dropped by over 50%. In response, Morocco has nearly doubled its imports of Russian wheat, bringing in 222,000 tons in November alone.

The persistent drought has pushed farmers to delay planting or forgo it altogether, exacerbated by high seed and energy costs. As a result, the country is confronting not just a water crisis but also a growing threat to food security.

Efforts to address these issues remain ongoing, but Morocco's driest year on record underscores the urgent need for long-term solutions to adapt to an increasingly unpredictable climate.