Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture released a statement that cereal production is projected to increase by 62% in 2023 compared to the previous year. Cereal production is expected to reach approximately 55.1 million quintals for the 2022/2023 agriculture campaign, up from the 34 million quintals in the previous agriculture campaign.

Soft wheat production is also expected to make up 29.8 million quintals of the overall volume of cereal production in 2023 according to the statement in the harvest break down, in comparison, durum wheat is set to reach 11.8 million quintals, and barley 13.5 million quintals.

The ministry expects four regions to account for 83% of national production on the regional distribution of the harvest; Fez-Meknes with 27.1%, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra with 26.5%, Grand Casablanca-Settat with 16.%, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima 12.4%. 

In view of the current progress of the agriculture campaign’s development, the statement noted that the early months were characterized by harsh weather conditions, particularly between September and November 2022, which caused a delay in the sowing of autumn crops. However, with a total of 207 millimeters of rain, 13% more than the previous year’s total of 184 millimeters, rainfall has also greatly increased from last year, although the nation’s annual rainfall is 36% below the previous average of 322 millimeters.

The Ministry further explained that the “favorable conditions relatively better than those that prevailed in 2022 have allowed a good flowering announcing a predictable return to normal production of citrus and olive”. It also noted that the exceptionally favorable climatic conditions in the southern Atlas also indicate an early campaign date from last year”.

It also disclosed that the livestock sector has improved remarkably from last year because of the improvement in weather conditions and the implementation of a program launched in March 2022 to reduce the impact of drought on producers.

According to the ministry, the vegetable market has struck a balance between satisfying domestic needs and exports after a cold snap in particular that undermined tomato production.