Drought will make Morocco lose millions of working days

The severe drought currently hitting Morocco will make the country lose 52.5 million working days, Moroccan agriculture minister, Habib Malki, on Monday said.

The drought will also cause a $ 900 million loss in agriculture value-added, Malki said while presenting to the press a government program to fight drought.

Agriculture is facing a very critical situation, especially in non-irrigated areas, due to the shortage of rainfall. The sector contributes 20 % to Morocco's gross domestic product.

The minister deplored that Morocco will lose 75 % of its vegetables land. The situation will adversely impact other sectors including commerce, transportation and agri-business, he said, adding that the country's annual growth will also suffer from the drought.

To face up the situation, the government devised a $ 600 million program that will be implemented over 15 months, starting from April, Malki said.

Some 65 % of the amount will be earmarked to generating jobs for rural population, 19 % to livestock preservation, 9 % for water supply and 2 % for small farmers debt payment.

The government also worked out a large scale plan to deal with drought as a structural problem. The 20-year plan will seek to secure cereal production, rational management of irrigation water, farmers training and the consolidation of agricultural insurance, the minister said.