Rabat – Morocco enters a extra hopeful agricultural season as cereal manufacturing is predicted to achieve 44 million quintals, up by 41% in comparison with final yr.
The announcement got here on Monday from Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Bouari throughout a parliamentary session.
After a troublesome earlier season, the sector seems to be regaining momentum. Bouari instructed members of parliament that the agricultural development fee ought to stand at 5.1% this yr, a big turnaround from final season’s 4% decline.
Rainfall patterns started to enhance in March. Recorded rainfall reached 295 millimeters by the tip of April. Whereas this determine was nonetheless 20% beneath the norm, it was 15% increased than final yr’s ranges. The rise contributed to higher dam reserves. Water storage for agricultural functions reached 5.31 billion cubic meters, in comparison with 4.38 billion final season. The general dam filling fee now stands at 38%.
Efforts to organize for the season included the sale of practically 740,000 quintals of licensed seeds, a ten% enhance from the earlier yr. Authorities additionally sponsored 1.3 million quintals of nitrogen fertilizers, benefiting 78,000 farmers. Insurance coverage protection prolonged to 661,000 hectares of cereal crops, legumes, and oilseeds.
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Farmers sowed a complete of three.11 million hectares with main autumn crops. About 2.6 million hectares have been planted with cereals, whereas forage crops lined 400,000 hectares and legumes 100,000. Solely 10% of the full space was irrigated.
As for spring crops, planted land reached 158,000 hectares. Maize took up the most important share with 47%, adopted by chickpeas at 35%, sunflowers at 13%, and dry beans at 5%.
Sugar crop cultivation additionally superior. This season noticed over 35,000 hectares devoted to sugar beet and 1,155 hectares planted with sugarcane.
The vegetable program moved ahead steadily. Farmers accomplished 91% of the autumn vegetable plan, masking roughly 97,000 hectares. Winter greens lined 65,000 hectares, reaching about 90% of the focused space.
This yr’s indicators provide cautious optimism for Moroccan agriculture after a interval of drought and uncertainty.
