Morocco’s livestock numbers have fallen by 38% due to ongoing drought, with rainfall down 53% this year. The agriculture sector has suffered greatly, prompting the government to pause import duties on cattle and meat to stabilize prices. Key irrigation dams are critically low, causing significant concerns for the agricultural output, especially wheat, which relies on rainfall.
Morocco’s Agriculture Minister, Ahmed El Bouari, reported a significant decline in the nation’s cattle and sheep herds, which have shrunk by 38% since the last census nine years ago, primarily due to ongoing drought conditions. After six consecutive years of drought, vital water sources in the country have been depleted, leading to widespread job losses in the agricultural sector and prompting accelerated desalination efforts.
Rainfall levels this year were reported to be 53% lower than the 30-year average, affecting livestock grazing areas and causing a reduction in meat production. To mitigate rising prices in the domestic market, Morocco’s 2025 budget has suspended import duties and value-added taxes on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat. So far in 2023, the country has imported 124,000 sheep, 21,000 cattle, and 704 tons of red meat.
El Bouari indicated that irrigation dams in key agricultural regions like Doukala and Souss-Massa were at critically low levels—2% and 15% full, respectively—resulting in a national dam filling rate of only 26%. This situation has led to prioritizing drinking water supply for urban centers over agricultural needs. However, the area dedicated to the cultivation of key staples such as soft wheat, durum, and barley has slightly increased to 2.6 million hectares from 2.4 million hectares the previous year.
The minister noted that wheat production will depend heavily on rainfall patterns for the remainder of March. Last year’s drought caused a drastic decrease in the output of soft wheat, durum, and barley, dropping to 3.1 million tons—an alarming 43% reduction from the prior year.
In conclusion, Morocco continues to face substantial challenges in its agricultural sector due to consecutive years of drought, leading to a drastic decline in livestock populations and agricultural output. As the government responds with measures to stabilize meat prices and increase imports, the nation must prioritize effective water management and innovative agricultural practices to address these persistent issues.
Original Source: clubofmozambique.com
