Morocco, Algeria (drought)

The impact of drought on agricultural yields in North Africa particularly, towards the end of the recent November to July wheat growing season cannot be overemphasised.

Cereals in North Africa are sowed or planted beginning in October. The planting season ends in January. The wide planting window is attributable to the variability in the moisture content of the soil from the autumn rains. By March to April, the crops flower and mature in April and May. Harvesting of the grains starts May in parts of Morocco and continues into June and early July in Algeria and Tunisia (Foreign Agricultural Service of the US Department of Agriculture, 2022).

An assessment conducted in May 2022 suggests wheat and barley yields of less than 50% of the 5-year average in Morocco, and 20% below the 5-year average in Algeria (EU Science Hub, 2022). These reductions in yields are largely attributed to poor rainfall.

Food security in the MENA region is already fragile. The region is highly dependent on food imports, as the agricultural sector cannot produce enough to meet domestic demand. According to the 2022 FAO Crop Prospects and Food Situation Report, 500 000 people in Libya (about 7% of the population) need food assistance (FAO, 2022).

Read more about food insecurity here.

Read more about extreme weather here.