Climate Variability, Drought, and Drought Management in Morocco's Agricultural Sector
Droughts in Morocco are increasing in frequency and intensity. Associated with global climate change, this trend will likely be more evident in the future. Drought damage to the agricultural sector affects both rural livelihoods and the national ec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/353801538414553978/Climate-Variability-Drought-and-Drought-Management-in-Moroccos-Agricultural-Sector http://hdl.handle.net/10986/30603 |
| Summary: | Droughts in Morocco are increasing in
frequency and intensity. Associated with global climate
change, this trend will likely be more evident in the
future. Drought damage to the agricultural sector affects
both rural livelihoods and the national economy as a whole.
This report examinesdrought and climate variability impacts
on agricultural and livestock activities in Morocco. It
relies on original research on the citrus and olive value
chains, which are both priorities in the government’s
current agricultural strategy, known as the “Green Plan” or
Plan Maroc Vert (PMV). The report also considers drought
impacts on cereal production, traces the government’s
efforts to address drought, and suggests actions to strength
these efforts. Long-term climate change is making Morocco,
which already faces rural water scarcity, more vulnerable to
extreme weather events. Recurrent atmospheric climate
events, known as teleconnections, such as the El Niño
Southern Oscillation (ENSO), may further exacerbate this
situation. This study finds that ENSO had limited impacts on
the 2015–2016 droughts in Morocco, but other
teleconnections,specifically the North Atlantic Oscillation
(NAO) and the Mediterranean Oscillation (MO), had greater
impacts. Increased climate variability leads to stronger
droughts, which adversely affect livestock andrainfed crops.
Moreover, Morocco’s average temperatures are rising and
rainfall is becoming more sporadic, both affecting certain
parts of the country more than others. Agriculture and
agribusiness activities generate over 30 percent of
employment in Morocco. The agricultural sector also produces
20 percent of GDP and 35 percent of exports. Rainfed crops,
like wheat, are critical for domestic food security and
livestock survival, but are also most affected by
climatevariability. As such, increasing droughts represent a
“contingent liability” for the Moroccan economy. This
impacts Morocco’s trade balance as agricultural exports fall
and food and fodder imports rise to meet increased domestic
demand. This report suggests further drought management
actions. Currently, the government is carrying out important
monitoring and crop insurance programs, but more can be done
to share information and strengthen inter-governmental and
interagency coordination, especially with governments at the
river basin level. |
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