Moroccans pray for rain

Rogatory prayers were held this Friday in mosques throughout Morocco at the call of the ministry of habous and islamic affairs.

Such prayers are held in line with the prophet's tradition every time drought is threatening a muslim community.

A first assessment of the current agricultural campaign--mostly relying on drought-sensitive crops-- shows that the harvest is seriously threatened by the drought currently prevailing in the country and warns if it does not rain, the forecast six million tons of cereals output will not be reached, especially that Morocco experienced unusual low temperatures in December and January.

The replenishment rate of dams used to agricultural purposes stood at 46% by mid February and since September 1999, water flows to dams recorded a drop of 59 % compared to the average flows in the same period, threatening even the irrigated areas.

At a recent meeting of the committee of agriculture and economic affairs at the chamber of advisors (upper house of the parliament), minister of agriculture called for rationalizing the use of irrigation waters and for granting priority to cereals and industrial crops.