Morocco Reaps 96 million Quintals of Cereals in 2017 Crop Year

After abundant rainfall, Morocco produced 96 million quintals of cereals in the 2016-2017 crop year, the Agriculture Ministry said.

The production of soft wheat is estimated at 49 million quintals (51%), followed by barley with 25 million quintals and hard wheat (22 million quintals), the ministry added in a statement.

Rabat-Salé-Kenitra region came first in cereal production with more than 12 million quintals of soft wheat, followed by the Grand Casablanca-Settat region.

In 2015, Morocco witnessed the worst drought in three decades, impacting severely the 2015-2016 crop year.

Agriculture accounts for more than 15 percent of the economy and the high harvest is expected to boost growth.