The water retention in dams for agricultural use has reached, for this agricultural campaign, 5.2 billion cubic meters (m³), representing a filling rate of about 37%, compared to 30% during the same period of the previous campaign, stated Ahmed El Bouari, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, on Tuesday at the House of Councillors.
Speaking during the oral question session, Mr. El Bouari emphasized that the current agricultural campaign is marked by early rainfall affecting the majority of the Kingdom’s regions in October, followed by a prolonged rainfall deficit from November to February, with a notable disparity between areas.
He noted that the rainfall situation improved starting in March, thanks to abundant precipitation and snowfall that had a positive impact in several regions.
In this regard, the precipitation recorded until June 5, 2025, amounted to approximately 302 mm, which is a decrease of 23% compared to a normal year (30-year average), but an increase of 14% compared to the previous campaign, the minister specified.
He affirmed that this improvement has revived hope among farmers for a return to a cycle of rainy seasons after several years of drought.
Furthermore, Mr. El Bouari highlighted the significant improvement in vegetation cover during this campaign, contributing to an increase in the yield of major autumn crops and giving a significant boost to spring crops, particularly legumes and oilseeds.
According to him, the density of vegetation cover will contribute to improving the condition of the national livestock affected by the succession of years of drought.