Morocco’s King Mohammed VI (Sidi Mohammed bin Hassan al-Alawi) evaluated the country’s water management recovery plan and its agricultural effects while presiding over a significant ministerial session in Rabat today.

In light of Morocco’s six-season drought, the monarch questioned Ahmed Bouari, the country’s minister of agriculture, on its agricultural industry.

The minister highlighted that Morocco’s recent rainfall, especially in March, had a “very positive impact” on fruit trees, the vegetation cover, autumn and spring harvests, and cereal production.

Across the nation, cattle also benefited from the rainfall.

The spokesperson of the Moroccan royal palace stressed that the monarch instructed the government to ensure the success of the herd rebuilding operation at all levels, to carry it out professionally following objective criteria, and to entrust the oversight of support management operations to commissions under the supervision of local authorities.

Earlier this year, King Mohammed VI announced the cancellation of the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual in a historic move. 

Morocco has endured a remarkable shortage of livestock, so the King saw the bold move as essential in the country’s quest to stabilise its water and agriculture sectors.

The Moroccan government also banned the slaughter of female goats and sheep to rebuild the livestock production.

In addition to agriculture, King Mohammed VI also reviewed Morocco’s water management recovery plan.

According to Water Minister Nizar Baraka, the average dam filling rate is currently 40.3%. This increase enables the mobilisation of 6.7 billion cubic meters of water, or 1.5 years’ worth of potable water usage.

Agriculture Minister Bouari stated in a February interview that Morocco’s water reserves had a filling rate of 28% and did not surpass 4.6 billion cubic meters.

Source: Morocco World News 

Image Credit: The Arab Weekly