Resilience and Growth in Morocco’s Agriculture Sector – 2022-2023 Season
Alalam24, The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests in Morocco has reported a remarkable turnaround in the agricultural sector during the 2022-2023 farming season, demonstrating significant resilience
In an official statement, the ministry highlighted that thanks to collaborative efforts between the government and agricultural professionals, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the agricultural sector experienced positive growth, a stark contrast to the negative growth of -14.8 percent observed in the previous season
This achievement reflects the agricultural sector’s ability to withstand a multitude of crises, including climate-related challenges due to severe rainfall deficiencies, soaring production costs resulting from inflation, especially input prices, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting agricultural supply chains, particularly in livestock production
To further develop the agricultural sector in line with the “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy, the ministry implemented a series of measures for the 2022-2023 farming season to ensure its successful progress and support agricultural supply chains
These measures encompassed the provision of production inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, the enhancement of agricultural production chains, efficient irrigation management, agricultural insurance, and financial support and guidance for farmers
Approximately 1.1 million quintals of certified seeds were marketed at incentivized prices, supported at 210 Moroccan Dirhams per quintal for soft wheat and barley and 290 Moroccan Dirhams per quintal for durum wheat. Concerning fertilizers, the national market was adequately supplied with phosphate fertilizers at stable prices. Moreover, imported nitrogenous fertilizer prices improved, registering a decrease compared to the historical peak in 2022
Efforts to promote investment in the agricultural sector continued through incentives provided by the Agricultural Development Fund, with new incentives launched under the “Green Generation Strategy”
Regarding the agricultural insurance program, it covered an area of 1.2 million hectares for grain, cotton, and oilseed crops. Given the challenging climatic conditions of this season, loss assessment procedures for communities have been underway since April
Morocco’s agricultural sector’s resilience and growth in the 2022-2023 season serve as a testament to the effectiveness of collaborative strategies and government support, contributing to food security and economic stability in the face of multiple challenges
