Agriculture in Morocco

Agriculture plays a significant role in Morocco’s economy and society. It is one of the country’s most important sectors, employing a substantial portion of the population and contributing significantly to GDP as well as contributing to export earnings. This includes both small-scale subsistence farming and larger commercial operations and is despite challenges including water scarcity, soil degradation, and rural-urban migration. With growing awareness of environmental sustainability, there has been an increasing interest in adopting eco-friendly and organic farming practices in Morocco. These practices aim to reduce the environmental impact of agriculture while maintaining productivity.

About a quarter of land in Morocco is suitable for farming, however,
Morocco produces almost enough food to feed its own population as well as exporting many items including citrus fruits, vegetables, fish, and phosphates (used in fertilizers). Livestock farming is also an important component of agriculture in Morocco. Animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, and poultry are raised for meat, dairy, and other products and although not strictly agriculture, fishing is another important sector for Morocco due to its long coastline along the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The country is a major exporter of fish and seafood products.

Given the semi-arid to arid climate in many parts of Morocco, efficient water management is crucial for agricultural sustainability. The country has invested in irrigation infrastructure and practices to optimize water usage and improve crop yields. A varied climate and geography along with many dams and irrigation projects make it possible to grow a wide variety of crops. Some of the major ones include cereals (wheat, barley, corn), citrus fruits, olives, dates, vegetables, and sugarcane. The country is also a significant producer of nuts, particularly almonds and walnuts.

Small-scale farming is prevalent in Morocco, especially in rural areas. Many farmers rely on traditional methods and family labor to cultivate crops and tend to livestock. 70% of farmers in Morocco farm at a very basic level, that is they farm on less than 5 hectares of land which is often not all together and with limited access to water and electricity. They principally farm to feed their families selling whatever is left at the local weekly souk. The work is very manual, as most of these farmers don’t have any machines to help them, they use very basic,simple materials like axes, shovels and spades. Most don’t have tractors so everything is done with a donkey and cart.
The small land size limits the amount and variety of planting that can be done but the main benefit of this kind of basic farming is that it can be done without a large financial outlay. This is why it is very common in poorer communities.

It is common in Morocco to notice farmers out working on their land, harvesting or tending their animals. Sitting watching them as they graze on whatever they can find. In small towns, you will see flocks of animals walking the streets looking for food followed by a man with a stick making sure they get home safely.

A typical year on a Moroccan small holding
Every day starts before sunrise, stops at mid day when the weather is hot and the day doesn’t end until the sun sets.

In winter they prepare the ground ready to sow their crops in the spring. They plow the soil with a donkey and maybe a fork that drags along behind turning the soil.

In spring they plant their crops and hope for good weather!

In summer its harvest time. The farmers work their way through their fields harvesting the grains that are ready. They work with a very sharp blade cutting down the wheat or barley and then collecting the small bunches and putting them in the baskets carried by the donkey. After that the donkey will walk on them to separate the grain from the hay. They keep the grain to make flour or sell at the local souk and they use the hay as food for the animals in the winter

In autumn they prepare the ground for winter, either planting winter crops or leaving the ground to rest ready for planting again in the spring..