Morocco's farming revolution defying drought with science

Published May 2, 2024

Tridge summary

In Morocco, scientists at the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) are working to develop drought and heat-resistant crops as the country faces extreme water stress and decreasing cultivated areas due to drought. The center has developed 30 'elite lines' of grain and has received approval for six new wheat and barley varieties, despite bureaucratic delays and preference for foreign seeds. The goal is to increase agricultural resilience and productivity using these resilient varieties, as Morocco liberalizes its seed market and adopts a national agricultural program.

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Original content

In the heart of sun-soaked Morocco, scientists are cultivating a future where tough crops defy a relentless drought, now in its sixth year."Look at these beautiful ears of wheat," said Wuletaw Tadesse Degu, the head of wheat breeding at the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA)."The difference in quality between our field and others is striking," he said, pointing towards a lush expanse in Marchouch, south of Rabat, that stood in stark contrast with the barren lands elsewhere.By 2040, Morocco is poised to face "extremely high" water stress, a dire prediction from the World Resources Institute, a non-profit research organization.Figures from the North African country's central bank paint a grim picture.Cultivated areas across the kingdom are expected to shrink to 2.5 million hectares in 2024 compared with 3.7 million last year, with cereal yields more than halving to 25 million quintals (2.5 million tonnes) over the same period."It has become ...

Source: Phys