Morocco devises plan to counter effects of late rain

Morocco said it devised a plan to shield the country the adverse effects of late rainfall.

Agriculture, rural development and fisheries minister, Habib Malki, said the plan targets to secure a stable income for small farmers to contain the flow of rural emigration to towns.

Malki, who termed the delay in rain in Morocco as "normal," said wells will be dug and several social projects will be implemented in the rural world to generate jobs for local population.

In a bid to develop livestock breeding, the government will also see to the distribution of barley even in remote areas, pay for the transportation fees of imported fodder and intensify veterinary services, he said.

An alarming delay in rainfall has triggered the concerns of agriculture community in the North African nation, which suffers from cyclical drought at an average of once every three years.

The drought severely affects the agriculture sector which accounts for more than 20 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product and employs half of its total workforce of 10 million.

To the great delight of farmers and all citizens, rain started to fall throughout the country on Tuesday night, rekindling hope for a good harvest.