Exceptional Rainfall Revitalizes the Agricultural Season in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra Region
In the fertile plains of Tadla within the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region, fields have regained their lushness after years of drought, as young wheat ears sway with the fresh breezes of March. Farmers, who have suffered through seven consecutive years of nature’s harshness, feel both joy and caution.
In a farm located in the Sidi Aissa area of the Fkih Ben Salah province, the agricultural season appears promising following recent rains that have breathed life into exhausted lands, cloaking them in a green outfit that sparks optimism among farmers. In a statement to the Maghreb Arab Press, Hassan El Hani, a local farmer, noted that the exceptional rainfall has restored confidence in agricultural work after the tough drought years, emphasizing that water is the lifeblood for all stages of agricultural, plant, and animal production, reducing the costs of feed and production that have burdened farmers in previous years.
This optimism is mirrored across various areas of the region, which have recorded exceptional rainfall and snowfall since mid-December, ending years of anxiety that clouded fields and villages. According to Khaled Assem, Head of the Agricultural Development Department at the Regional Agricultural Investment Office in Tadla – Fkih Ben Salah, the rainfall has reached 448.4 millimeters to date, representing an increase of 87.5% compared to last season, and 22.6% compared to the average recorded over the past thirty years.
Moreover, significant snowfall was reported in mountainous areas, particularly in the provinces of Azilal, Beni Mellal, and Khenifra, where snow depths have exceeded three meters in some highlands, thereby enhancing surface water resources and aquifers, a crucial foundation for agricultural activity.
These climatic conditions have also influenced the cultivated areas for the current season, which total approximately 526,700 hectares, distributed between autumn grains (430,000 hectares), forage crops (over 41,000 hectares), direct sowing, legumes, and autumn and winter vegetables, in addition to sugar beet covering 10,470 hectares.
Spring and summer crops are expected to benefit from the water abundance, with a noticeable improvement in the levels of major dams. As of March 10, the Ahmed El Hansali Dam recorded a filling rate of about 72%, while the Bin El Ouidane Dam reached 78%.
The success of the season relies not just on water abundance but also on the technical management of farms. The stability of weather conditions has allowed farmers to remove weeds and address fungal diseases, helping to maintain the quality of their crops and improve yields.
This positive rainfall is also reflected in natural pastures, which have regained vitality, reducing reliance on compound feeds and providing a respite for livestock breeders in the region.
Between the Tadla plains and the Atlas Highlands, the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region is reclaiming its natural agricultural rhythm, strengthening the connection between farmers and the land, and renewing hope for a promising agricultural season that restores farmers’ confidence and boosts the dynamics of the rural economy.
