The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture revealed that the grain production in this country has decreased by 69% compared to the previous agricultural season.
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry Mohammad Siddiqui noted that “grain production in Morocco has decreased by 69% compared to the previous agricultural season,” noting that “last season was a record production of 103 crops. Morocco produced 17.8 million quintals of soft wheat, 7.5 million quintals of durum wheat and 6.6 million quintals of barley this season.
“The current agricultural season has been difficult due to the consequences of the epidemic as well as the crisis in Ukraine,” said Mohammad al-Siddiqui. “The ministry has taken steps to reduce the burden of the current agricultural season.”
He also lamented the loss of 44% of normal rainfall over the past 30 years, adding that spring rains have revived hope for some crops.
Noting that the Ministry of Agriculture is trying to deal with farmers’ debts as much as possible and has reviewed 5,900 cases at a cost of 5.6 billion dirhams, Siddiqui added: “This process is continuing.”
He also stressed the “abundance of food products”, noting that for autumn and winter vegetables, Morocco has cultivated 168,000 hectares and sugar crops are stable, and Morocco will have 380,000 tons of white sugar.
“Tomato exports have increased by 15% compared to last year and account for 43% of Morocco’s total early morning production,” he said.
Regarding the bee crisis, Mohammad al-Siddiqui stressed that “the ministry is launching a national campaign to address all the problems and support beekeepers after the migration phenomenon, and this support will take place in the summer.”
Al-Siddiqui revealed that Morocco is betting on planting 300,000 hectares of olives in the coming years, so that its level will reach 1.5 million hectares by 2030, taking into account the element of quality and coordination with experts.
Source: Lebanon Debate
