Morocco’s agricultural sector is facing significant production losses due to a prolonged drought, the platform Green Prophet reported.
The country’s 2025 wheat harvest could be reduced by nearly 50%, raising concerns about the social impact of rising wheat prices.
According to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Morocco’s agriculture and food security are at risk. “A six-year drought, worsened by climate change, has severely affected the country’s cereal farmers, whose wheat, maize, and barley fields once supported both human and livestock consumption.”
Morocco’s agricultural industry is highly vulnerable to climate shifts, particularly the irregular and delayed rainfall that has plagued the country. The productivity and area of cereals, which make up the majority of Morocco’s cropland, have sharply declined.
Morocco is expected to produce only 3.4 million tons of wheat in 2023, down from 6.1 million tons the previous year. Many farmers have left their fields fallow, leading to a decrease in income and productivity.
The prolonged drought has also forced Morocco to import wheat to meet domestic demand. The country purchased around 2.5 million tons of wheat between January and June 2023, mostly from France.
However, France is also grappling with declining harvests due to climate challenges, heightening concerns about the future of agriculture on both sides of the Mediterranean.