In response to an oral question in the House of Advisors, Mr. Sadiki stressed that although this figure remains 27% lower than a normal agricultural year, i.e. the average of the last 30 years, the total dam reserves used in agriculture currently stands at 31%, compared to 32% last year, or around 4.3 billion cubic meters (m3).
The minister affirmed that this situation had repercussions on the share of water allocated to large irrigated areas, which does not exceed 680 million m3 for the current agricultural season, including 300 million m3 have been used since the beginning of the year, specifying that the irrigable area in these large areas does not exceed 400,000 hectares (ha) out of a total of 800,000 ha, thus marking a reduction of 44%.
Concerning the state of crops to date, he noted that the area sown with autumn and winter crops, particularly autumn cereals, amounts to around 2.5 million ha, compared to 4 million ha during normal seasons, a significant drop of 31%, adding that recent rainfall in certain regions of the Kingdom could improve the cereal situation.
And to continue that the areas of fodder crops amount to 470,000 ha, those of food legumes to 109,000 ha and those of sugar crops to 22,000 hectares, or 42% less than expected, due to the unavailability of irrigation in the regions of Doukkala and Tadla.
Concerning the areas irrigated and planted with autumn and winter vegetables, they reached 90,000 ha, which represents 90% of the planned program, of which 57,000 ha are dedicated to winter vegetables, making it possible to meet the needs of the national market until next June, according to the minister.
For spring crops which benefited from the latest rainfall, the total area reached 112,000 ha, or more than 70% of the program established three weeks before the end of the program, and the planned production should satisfy the needs of the national market during the season. summer.
On the other hand, Mr. Sadiki stressed that price subsidization has reached an unprecedented level, especially with regard to seeds, fertilizers and animal feed, in order to reduce production costs in accordance with the High Instructions from His Majesty King Mohammed VI aimed at mitigating the effects of the water deficit on agricultural activity, adding that this support will continue in the coming months.
For the first time in Morocco, financial support of 2.2 billion dirhams was granted to nitrogen fertilizers, all imported, with the distribution of 1.3 million quintals of these fertilizers, particularly in irrigated areas or those having experienced recent rainfall, and the distribution of 672,000 quintals of subsidized seeds at 50 to 70% of the purchase price, he said.
And note that this has made it possible to reduce production costs and prices for consumers, with around 18,000 producers having benefited from this aid with a total value of 140 million dirhams so far.