Rabat – Chairing a major ministerial council in Rabat today, King Mohammed VI assessed Morocco’s water management recovery plan and its impact on the country’s agriculture.
The monarch asked the Minister of Agriculture, Ahmed Bouari, about Morocco’s agriculture sector, especially amid the drought that affected the country for six seasons in a row.
The minister stressed that the rainfall that Morocco experienced in recent months, particularly in March, had a “very positive impact” on cereal production, autumn and spring crops, as well as fruit trees and the vegetation cover.
The rainfall also benefited livestock across the country.
The spokesperson of the Moroccan royal palace stressed that the monarch gave instructions to the government to ensure the success of the herd rebuilding operation at all levels, to carry it out professionally in accordance with objective criteria, and to entrust the oversight of support management operations to commissions under the supervision of local authorities.
In a historic move earlier this year, King Mohammed VI announced the cancellation of the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual.
With Morocco having endured a remarkable shortage in livestock population, the King saw the bold move as essential in the country’s quest to stabilize its water and agriculture sectors.
The Moroccan government also banned the slaughter of female goats and sheep to rebuild the livestock production.
In addition to agriculture, King Mohammed VI also reviewed Morocco’s water management recovery plan.
Minister of Water Nizar Baraka stressed that the average dam filling rate currently stands at 40.3%, noting that this increase allows the mobilization of 6.7 billion cubic meters of water, equivalent to one and a half years of potable water consumption.
In a previous interview in February, Agriculture Minister Bouari said Morocco’s water reserves in Morocco did not exceed 4.6 billion cubic meters, with a filling rate of 28%.
“Due to the need to secure water for priority sectors, such as driving and industry, the agricultural sector remains the most affected, with most irrigation areas subject to strict regulations and water rationing,” the minister explained.
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