Morocco’s cattle and sheep populations have drastically decreased by 38% in the past nine years, primarily due to the ongoing drought crisis, Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari reported on Thursday.
The country has endured six consecutive years of extreme drought, severely impacting its agricultural sector. El Bouari attributed this prolonged dry spell to the depletion of the nation’s vital water resources, with critical irrigation dams in key agricultural regions, such as Doukala and Souss-Massa, being only 2% and 15% full, respectively. National dam levels have plummeted to just 26%, forcing the government to prioritize urban drinking water over agricultural needs.
This year’s rainfall has been 53% below the 30-year average, exacerbating conditions for farmers and livestock breeders. The lack of water has not only reduced grazing lands but has also led to a decline in meat production, prompting a rise in imports of cattle and red meat. So far this year, Morocco has imported 124,000 sheep, 21,000 cattle, and 704 tons of red meat to meet domestic demand.
To mitigate the impact on consumers, the government has introduced measures in the 2025 budget, including the removal of import duties and value-added taxes on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat. Despite these efforts, the country’s livestock numbers are expected to take years to recover.
El Bouari noted that the wheat harvest, a key agricultural product, would depend heavily on rainfall patterns in the coming weeks, with March being a critical month. The previous year’s drought caused a 43% drop in Morocco’s production of essential grains like soft wheat, durum wheat, and barley, which were reduced to 3.1 million tons.
In response to these challenges, Morocco has increased the area planted with vital crops from 2.4 million hectares in 2024 to 2.6 million hectares in 2025. However, the situation remains dire as the country grapples with the combined effects of water scarcity, reduced agricultural output, and rising meat imports.
