The agricultural revolution in Morocco: defying drought with science

By Kaouthar OUDRHIRI

In the heart of sun-drenched Morocco, scientists are cultivating a future where strong crops defy a brutal drought, now in its sixth year.

“Look at these beautiful ears of wheat,” said Wuletaw Tadesse Degu, head of wheat breeding at the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA).

“The difference in quality between our field and those of others is striking,” he said, pointing to a lush expanse in Marchouch, south of Rabat, that stood in stark contrast to arid areas elsewhere.

By 2040, Morocco will face “extremely high” water stress, a dire forecast from the World Resources Institute, a nonprofit research organization.

Figures from the central bank of the North African country paint a gloomy picture.

Cultivated areas across the kingdom are expected to shrink to 2.5 million hectares by 2024, compared to 3.7 million last year, with grain yields more than halving to 25 million quintals (2.5 million tons) over the same period. .

“It has become essential to use resilient seeds and use them as quickly as possible,” says Tadesse, whose center recently opened a plant gene bank.

– Custom genotypes –

Tadesse’s mission is to develop genotypes that are not only resistant to drought and heat, but also produce abundant yields.

Last year, while the country was struggling, Marchouch achieved a yield of four tonnes per hectare with just 200 millimeters of rain.

Controlled irrigation and strategic sowing techniques underlie this agricultural revolution.

To maximize production, farmers experiment with planting times and sensible irrigation.

Even a meager 10 millimeters of water, carefully applied, transformed barren soil into blossoming fields.

Barley has also seen a revival, with yields rising from 1.5 to 2 tonnes per hectare last year, thanks to climate-friendly genotypes, says Miguel Sanchez Garcia, barley specialist at ICARDA.

The centre, which operates in 17 countries in Africa and Asia, says it has developed 30 ‘elite lines’ of grain.

Most are produced in Morocco by breeding wild wheat genotypes with different ancestors, says ICARDA genetics researcher Ahmed Amri.

– ‘Slow system’ –

Moroccan agricultural authorities approved six new wheat and barley varieties last year, but bureaucratic hurdles loom.

Approval processes drag on, hindering the timely distribution of new varieties to farmers, researchers at the center said, resulting in a five-year journey from approval to market-ready seeds.

“The certification system is taking too long and needs to be overhauled quickly,” said Moha Ferrahi, head of genetic resources conservation and improvement at the National Institute of Agricultural Research.

Ferrahi also pointed out the lack of involvement of private companies and farmers who opt for “foreign seeds to get a faster return on their investments, while these seeds are not adapted to Morocco’s climate.”

Still, many see room for improvement, even in a drought-stricken country where the average citizen consumes about 200 kilos of wheat per year – significantly more than the world average, according to official figures.

“Unlike countries like Egypt or Ethiopia, Morocco has chosen to liberalize its market,” says researcher Amri, meaning authorities have no control over which varieties farmers select.

But Amri remains confident that, combined with the national agricultural program, widespread adoption of resilient varieties will help offset mounting losses. — Agence France-Presse