It is widely known that Morocco is experiencing one of the worst droughts in its meteorological recorded history. A report published by the General Directorate of Meteorology describes the scale of the crisis: This is the longest drought the country has ever experienced; 2023 was the driest in the last 80 years and witnessed more than twenty extreme weather events, including the all-time record temperature of 50.4 degrees Celsius in the agricultural region of Agadir, FreshPlaza informs.
This March brings a breath of fresh air: heavy and consistent rainfall is being recorded across the country, and is heaviest in its northern region, from Tangier to Rabat. Moroccans dare to ask: is this the beginning of the end of the drought? According to Anas Mansouri, a researcher in arid zone farming, “Most likely, the rainfall will not last enough to put an end to the structural drought. What we’re seeing is rather an alternation between long droughts and violent rainy spells.”
The rainfall is independent from storm Jana, but not really
According to the Directorate General of Meteorology, the rainfall recorded in March is independent of the Jana storm hitting Western Europe and is instead related to a different system occurring on the Atlantic coast of Portugal. Mansouri comments, “Even if the rainfall we see currently in Morocco is not directly related to Jana, it is part of its wider system of climatic variations influenced by Atlantic and Mediterranean disturbances. Jana or not, the most important thing is that these rains are a blessing and have a positive impact on the overall hydric situation in Morocco.”
“Rainfall has exceeded 120 mm this week alone in the north of the country and provided a long-awaited respite from the persistent drought,” Mansouri continues “Just like Jana, these heavy rains are due to an intense meteorological phenomenon that crossed the Atlantic before affecting the Mediterranean basin. The low-pressure system favored the formation of atmospheric disturbances which generated continuous precipitation, reinforced by cold air masses from the north and accumulated moisture over the Atlantic. However, despite this welcome influx of water, the country’s hydric situation continues to give cause for concern. The average filling rate of dams is currently 31%, reflecting a modest improvement that is insufficient to compensate for the deficits accumulated in recent years.”
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Groundwater recharge and soil humidification
Mansouri adds, “The improvement in rainfall has been particularly marked in the North, Rif, Gharb, and Middle Atlas regions, where precipitation has partially recharged the water table and improved soil moistening. This improvement will certainly benefit vegetable and fruit production. In irrigated areas, notably on the Haouz plain and in the Souss region, the rainfall has temporarily reduced water stress, although the long-term impact remains uncertain due to the still-low level of the water table.”
According to Mansouri, the rainfall recorded so far has not yet reached the threshold needed to bring an end to the country’s structural drought. He explains: “The outlook for next year remains uncertain. Morocco is particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, with increased variability in rainfall and increasingly extreme temperatures. These climate changes are increasing the frequency of prolonged droughts, while intensifying certain episodes of heavy rainfall, as is the case today. This alternation between prolonged drought and excessive rainfall poses a major challenge for water resource management and food security.”
He concludes, “This year’s weather conditions underline the need for Morocco to adopt more effective adaptation strategies. Improving water management is becoming an absolute priority, notably by strengthening rainwater storage policies, promoting water-saving irrigation techniques, and developing desalination infrastructures in the most vulnerable areas. At the same time, the adoption of more resilient agricultural practices, such as the use of drought-tolerant crops and the optimization of crop rotation, could limit the effects of climatic hazards on food production.”
Pay attention: in April 2025, the FAO/EBRD-led project, in partnership with FoodEx Morocco, will organize a trade mission to connect Moroccan exporters with Southeast Asia—one of the fastest-growing regions for fruit and vegetable imports. To get involved, please follow the registration process via this link.
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