Morocco Earmarks $5.7 Mln to Protect Livestock against Drought

Moroccan government has earmarked $5.7 million to help farmers protect their livestock and ease their concern over the delay of rainfall.

 

The funds will be used for the purchase and transportation of fodder to rural zones and remote villages to enable farmers to keep their cattle.

These emergency measures were announced lately by minister of Agriculture Aziz Akhannouch at a meeting with Moroccan MPs.

Despite the current rainfall deficit, “it is too early to describe this season as a drought year”, said the minister, noting that he is still upbeat as some rainfall may occur in the coming days.

Morocco’s agricultural sector accounts for 19 pc of the GNP. It employs more than 4 million rural people and plays an important social role as 80 pc of the rural inhabitants depend on revenues from agriculture.

To counter global warming affecting its agricultural sector, which plays a key role in the country’s food security, Morocco deployed a new farming strategy elaborated in line with the royal guidance calling for the creation of jobs, income generating activities in rural areas and for the emergence of an agricultural middle class.

To secure its water needs over the next seven years, Morocco worked out a strategy aimed at diversifying drinking and irrigation water supply notably through the building of more small and large dams with a view of bringing up Morocco’s water storage capacity to 27.3 billion m3.

The 2020-2027 national water plan also provides for better management of water consumption, increasing supply to rural areas, building desalination plants and exploration of ground water.