MOROCCO: Moroccan farmers experience cereal production shortfall due to drought and poor irrigation

Berrechid is a rural city in the heart of Morocco whose economy and population are are heavily reliant on agriculture. The city is surrounded by farms and fields devoted mainly to growing cereals and the land and the crops rely as much on irrigation as actual rainfall. Last year, the farmers of Berrechid enjoyed an exceptional harvest, but this year, a severe drought combined with the area's poor irrigation systems have resulted in a bad harvest which is having a devastating effect on the local economy. Rainfall levels have been at 50 percent of the average and as a result, grain production, mainly wheat, is expected to fall by at least 77 per cent compared with last year. "It was a poor year because of the lack of rain. Irrigated lands gave a good harvest but in the land without irrigation, it is very bad," said farmer Hachimi Ben Mohammed. "This year, irrigated land gave grain while non-irrigated land gave absolutely nothing. The only thing they gave is hay," added another farmer, Abdallah Nasser. Cereal production could fall to 20.5 million quintals this year compared with more than 90 million quintals last year. The governments' predictions in the budget were for around 60 million quintals. This shortfall means that the country will have to resort to the world market to import cereals. Government experts say that imports may soar by up to 4 million tonnes. In order to help cattle farmers who are also severely affected by drought, half a million tons of barely will be fully subsidised while an additional 25 per cent of imports will also be subsidised. The government will also assist with transport costs of certain grains and water. It has also cut taxes and duties for barely and corn. As a final measure, it will also guarantee jobs to some 700,000 farmers trough land works schemes in drought stricken areas. "The government took many measures including subsidising imported cattle food in all kinds so that cattle breeders can afford to buy it. It also took many measures for the water destined for the cattle and for veterinary help. This will cost around 900 million Moroccan Dirhams (108 million USD). This is nearly 100 million US Dollars," the Moroccan Minister for Agriculture, Mohammed Laensar, told Reuters. But local farmers in the Berrechid farmlands are asking for more. They say that the central government is not helping them enough and that the situation on the ground is catastrophic. "By every standard, it was a difficult and dry year. We hope to see the government responding adequately to this bad situation by helping the farmer and cattle breeders by giving them loans and subsidising seeds and cattle food so that this situation can be overcome without too much damage," said Mohamed Benchaib, landowner and dealer in farming equipment. Since the early sixties, Morocco embarked on a dam building plan to help irrigating farmlands and cut reliance on rainfall. However, changes in climate and the regular cycle of droughts that hit the country every three or four years have meant that the smaller farmers without proper irrigation systems are the ones who are affected most.

ITN Source | May 24, 2007

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