Decline in Agricultural Land in Morocco Raises Concerns Over Future Food Security
The Moroccan agricultural sector has witnessed a concerning decline in cultivated areas over the past decade, amid rising climatic and economic challenges impacting national farming.
Recent data from the FAOSTAT platform of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, published by “Horto Info,” reveals that Morocco lost approximately 294,000 hectares of its agricultural land between 2014 and 2023.
This decline poses a clear threat to one of the key pillars of the national economy, especially given that agriculture is a primary source of employment and income in rural areas. According to the same data, the areas designated for cultivating several strategic crops have diminished, including yellow melon which lost 10,978 hectares, red melon by 1,387 hectares, and tomatoes by 1,042 hectares, despite the latter being one of Morocco’s most important export products to the European market.
Despite this overall downturn, some crops have seen a slight increase as an attempt to redirect production towards varieties more resilient to climate change and market demands. The areas allocated for eggplant increased by 1,629 hectares, peppers by 589 hectares, and cucumbers by 257 hectares.
Experts attribute this shift to several complex factors, most notably climate change, a decline in water resources, competitive pressures from foreign markets, and decreased economic returns from certain traditional crops. This situation necessitates that policymakers enhance national agricultural strategies to ensure food security and guarantee the sustainability of the sector amid rapid changes.
