Morocco records 55% deficit in rainfall

Morocco is experiencing a 55% deficit of rainfall due to a dry weather in the months of late February and early March, says the Equipment Ministry.

Last year, Morocco also suffered an acute drought that affected dam reservoirs and underground water sheets.

In 2000, water supplies reached around 2.7 billion cubic meters, including 70% stored in dams. The general deficit compared to last year exceeds 70%.

After a particularly-dry period between Sept 98 and Jan 2000 where only 30% of the average rainfall occurred, dams are now filled to 45% against 59.5% in the previous period, according to the source.

Moroccan Agriculture Minister Habib El Malki has deplored a very critical situation of cereals in Morocco adding that unusually low temperatures last December and January, coupled with the absence of rain since January, have entailed negative effects on grain culture.

He announced that the CNCA bank specialized in financing farming has decided to write off debts not exceeding 10,000 DH ($1,000) owed by 140,332 small farmers. He added that the state has paid up to last January worth $266 million, which is 86% of the budget allocated to a national program to alleviate drought effects.

Morocco's western regions experienced last week unusually hot temperatures of more than 30 degrees celsius, caused by hot winds coming from the south. The average temperature at this period stands at 19 degrees.