In his response to an oral question on the “current agricultural campaign”, asked by a group of deputies, the minister explained that these projects are part of the Generation Green strategy, which is based on two pillars: the human element, which is a priority, in addition to adaptive and efficient agriculture, ecologically sustainable and climate-smart to face climate change.
The minister added that the attractiveness of the agricultural sector will be strengthened through the encouragement of investment and the integration of young people, valorization and food industries in order to increase added value, regulate market supply and preserve the regular supply of the national market, and this by improving sectoral competitiveness, market diversification, trade protection and strategic monitoring.
According to the minister, sustainable management of irrigation water will be carried out to ensure its efficiency and valorization by producing more with less water, noting in this sense that the reservoirs of dams intended for agricultural purposes amounted to 4.15 billion cubic meters, which represents a filling rate of approximately 30% and a deficit rate of 3% compared to the previous campaign.
In the same vein, Mr. Sadiki said that the rainfall that Morocco experienced until the end of last month amounted to 134 mm, a decrease of 10% compared to the average year and an increase of 100% compared to the previous campaign, stressing that these rains had a positive impact on the frequency of planting autumn crops, fruit trees and the vegetative state of pastures.
Regarding the progress of the agricultural campaign, the minister stressed that the cultivated area is currently estimated at 3.76 million hectares with autumn crops, 10% of which are irrigated, 3.2 million hectares of cereals, 450,000 hectares of fodder crops, in addition to 106,000 hectares of legumes, in addition to 41,000 hectares for the multiplication of cereal seeds to provide seeds for the next agricultural campaign.
In addition, around 30,000 hectares of sugar beets and 1,000 hectares of sugar cane have been planted, as well as 80,000 hectares of the most consumed autumn vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, carrots and turnips.
Regarding exports, Mr. Sadiki said that they amounted to 154,000 tons of citrus fruits, a decrease of 47% compared to the previous season, and 550,000 tons of early vegetables, an increase of 14% compared to last season, including 52% of tomatoes.
Regarding incentive measures and public investments, the minister indicated that 4.2 billion dirhams (MMDH) were allocated to the Agricultural Development Fund, and 1.8 MMDH to promote and diversify solidarity agricultural projects in 2023, while 5 MMDH were dedicated to irrigation and agricultural land development programs.
2024-08-19 09:57:48