The Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohammed Sadiki, announced yesterday in Rabat a series of measures that his ministry will take to prepare for the next agricultural season 2024-2025.
Sadiki informed during a meeting with representatives of professionals in the agricultural sector, devoted to the management of water resources and the preparation of the next agricultural season, that “to prepare for the 2024-2025 agricultural season, the ministry will take a series of measures, particularly with regard to the supply of agricultural inputs (seeds and fertilizers), the development of production chains, irrigation management, agricultural insurance, financing and support for farmers.”
Regarding seeds, the minister indicated that the government will continue to support cereal seeds at around 40% in order to keep prices at levels accessible to farmers, while adding new varieties, including legumes and fodder crops.
He also announced that for the second consecutive year, support will be provided for seeds and seedlings of round tomatoes, onions and potatoes in order to reduce the cost of production of these vegetables, improve production and ensure sufficient supply on the national market at reasonable prices.
Sadiki stressed that regarding fertilizers, the national market will be supplied with 650 thousand tons of phosphate fertilizers at the same prices as the previous season, adding that for imported nitrogen fertilizers, the support will be maintained at 40 to 45% as in the previous season, with a programmed quantity of 5 million quintals.
He confirmed that “for the planned autumn crop program, it will be implemented taking into account water savings in boreal areas. This program concerns 4.36 million hectares of cereals, about 545,900 hectares of fodder crops, about 300,000 hectares of legumes and 105,860 hectares of autumn vegetables. The implementation of this program will depend on climatic conditions and the availability of irrigation water.”
Regarding animal production, Mr. Sadiki indicated that support for barley and compound feed will continue depending on climatic conditions, pasture conditions and feed production.
In addition to emergency measures, the ministry will work to gradually restore the balance of the different chains, while continuing structured investments aimed at strengthening the sector’s capacity to adapt to climate change.
He clarified that “the encouragement of investments in the agricultural sector continues in accordance with the requirements of the Green Generation Strategy through the provision of incentives within the framework of the Agricultural Development Fund, while maintaining existing incentives and establishing new subsidies.”
He also stressed that the implementation of two structural programs for cereals continues in accordance with the agreement reached with the professional federation. These are the National Program for the Promotion of Direct Seeding aimed at reaching one million hectares by 2030 (the program of one million hectares for direct seeding), as well as the one aimed at promoting the complementary irrigation of cereals with the aim of reaching one million hectares.
He added that a governance model has been put in place at the national, regional and local levels to ensure continuous and regular monitoring of the evolution of the agricultural season and rationalize the availability of water in irrigation circuits, in coordination with all stakeholders, which will allow taking the necessary additional measures in due time.
On the other hand, the minister insisted on “the need for continued cooperation” between professionals in the agricultural sector to prepare for the next agricultural season and overcome the difficult period marked by a prolonged drought.
This meeting was also attended by the president of the Union of Agricultural Chambers of Morocco, the president of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development, the presidents of the regional chambers of agriculture, the heads of professional organizations, as well as central and regional officials of the sector.
