Moroccan agriculture, especially grain cultivation, is suffering much more this year from a shortage of water than from corona. Initial nationwide studies show that the corona pandemic has had major negative economic consequences.
The economy contracted by nearly -14%, almost 600,000 jobs were lost, and the value of export-oriented foreign trade shrank by -20%. However, the decline in agricultural exports remained limited to 6.4%, mainly due to an increasing lack of water for irrigation in agriculture.
The past three years have already been exceptionally dry in Morocco, according to the agricultural consul at the Dutch embassy in Rabat. Especially the current water levels in the reservoirs are cause for concern regarding the upcoming harvests.
Morocco had to import a record amount of grain this year after the harvest dropped by -42% in spring due to lack of rain. Now that there is even less water, additional grain imports are expected to be needed in the coming months.
The unstable climate with prolonged droughts makes agriculture particularly difficult. There is a strong call for more efficient water use in agriculture, and reducing the enormous losses in water distribution is an absolute necessity. Reusing wastewater in agriculture also deserves attention. Soil salinization caused by improper water use and excessive fertilization threatens Moroccan agriculture and horticulture in many places, experts say.
The coastal areas in the north and west receive the most rainfall; southern regions such as Agadir and Marrakesh are much more dependent on irrigation from reservoirs and partly from underground sources.
In the past three years, the refill rate of Moroccan reservoirs has decreased from 57% to 40%. Especially the basins in the south, such as in the Agadir region, have dropped to a dramatic 15%. In the Marrakesh region, the level has fallen to 17.7%.
Currently, Morocco has about 150 larger reservoirs with a total capacity of 18 billion cubic meters. Over the next 30 years, at least 10 more reservoirs will be constructed on the country’s largest river, the Oued Sebou in Central Morocco. Additionally, a large water desalination plant is currently being built south of Agadir.