Drought-resistant seeds sow hope in Moroccan agriculture

Published 2024년 5월 2일

Tridge summary

A trial field in Morocco is testing drought-resistant wheat and barley seeds, a potential solution to the country's regular droughts and climate change impacts, which have led to a decrease in grain yield and cultivation area. The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is developing these seeds, some of which have been distributed to 90 drought-resistant seed programs globally. However, the process of licensing new seed varieties in Morocco is slow, and there is lack of interest from the private sector, leading to importation of unsuitable foreign seeds. ICARDA is hopeful that the new agricultural plan, 'Green Generation' (2020-2030), will speed up the process and increase the use of drought-resistant seeds.

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Original content

Agricultural scientist Woltau Tadesse Digou fondly points to the “gross ears of wheat” covering a field for testing drought-resistant seeds in Morocco, representing hope for a better future for a country that suffers from regular drought and is exposed to the repercussions of climate change. This field extends over an area of 120 hectares in the small village of Marschouch, about 70 kilometers southeast of Rabat. Since 2013, it has been affiliated with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), which is concerned with developing seeds, especially grains, that are able to adapt to climate risks. Green wheat and barley orchards with their ripe ears paint a picture contradictory to the reality of the current agricultural season, which is threatened by a severe drought for the year. Sixth in a row. This heralds a weak harvest of grains, given that they constitute the basis of food and agricultural imports to Morocco. Adaptation is necessary. The area ...

Source: موقع أحداث.أنفو