Morocco faces severe livestock losses, dropping 38% due to droughts. The agriculture sector has suffered extensive damage, leading to increased imports of cattle and meat. The government has implemented tax suspensions to stabilize prices, but water reservoirs remain critically low, impacting agricultural production. Wheat harvests depend on forthcoming rainfall as drought conditions persist.
Morocco’s livestock population, including cattle and sheep, has plummeted by 38% over the past nine years due to a series of persistent droughts, stated Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari. The country has suffered six years of continuous dry conditions that have severely depleted reservoirs, led to significant job losses in agriculture, and accelerated desalination efforts. Rainfall this year was reported to be 53% below the 30-year average, impacting livestock feed availability and, consequently, meat production, which has necessitated increased imports of cattle and red meat.
To stabilize local prices amidst the crisis, Morocco’s 2025 budget includes the suspension of import duties and value-added tax on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat. Up until now, the nation has imported 124,000 sheep, 21,000 cattle, and 704 tons of red meat. In key agricultural zones such as Doukala and Souss-Massa, irrigation dam levels are critically low, with only 2% and 15% capacity, respectively, illustrating the urgency of prioritizing drinking water supplies to urban centers over agricultural needs.
Total area planted with staple grains, including soft wheat, durum, and barley, rose to 2.6 million hectares, a slight increase from 2.4 million hectares the previous year. The outcome of wheat production will critically depend on rainfall patterns until the end of March, according to El Bouari. Last year, unfavorable weather conditions resulted in a 43% decrease in Morocco’s soft wheat, durum, and barley production, yielding only 3.1 million tons.
The ongoing droughts in Morocco have led to a significant reduction in livestock and agricultural output, prompting increased imports to maintain market stability. The government has taken steps to alleviate pressure on food prices by suspending certain taxes on imports. However, the precarious state of water resources continues to pose a serious threat to agricultural viability in key regions, requiring immediate attention.
Original Source: www.tradingview.com
