This report is the first of a series of bulletins produced through a collaborative effort of Joint Research Centre and National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) of MoroccoJRC.DDG.H.4-Monitoring agricultural resource

BALAGHI Riad

GIOVANNI Narciso

JRC Publications Repository

  
 
ISSN: 1018-5593, EUR : 24252 EN 
Morocco Special Report  
February 13, 2009 
Introduction: This report is the first of a series of bulletins produced through a collaborative effort of Joint 
Research Centre and National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) of Morocco. 
 
 
In 2008-2009 growing season, 5.1 million hectares cereal crops have been sown in Morocco, with no 
particular difference from the previous seasons. The relative distribution of area production among 
Provinces for all winter cereals and averaged over 1979-2007 time period the following: Kenitra & Sidi 
Kacem 11%, Beni Mellal 6.8%, Khemisset 5.9%, Meknes 3.9%, Taounat 4.9%, Fès 3.5%, Settat 8.7%, El 
Kalaa 5.5%; El Jadida 6.3%.  This season is exceptionally wet and by the end of January, most Provinces 
have exceeded the average levels of seasonal rainfall. However, significant areas were flooded, especially 
in the Gharb Province. To date, winter cereal crops are at end tillering stage in the cool northern parts of 
the country while they are at elongation in southern parts. During February, elongation is expected to 
speed up due to temperature rise.  So far, water has not been a limiting factor and, if the trend continues, 
the yield would depend on the availability of nitrogen and crop management. Nitrogen management 
strategies should be thought as to minimize the risk of leaching and increase input efficiencies. The 
season is on a positive trend even though it is still too early to make a final statement on the overall 
outcome. 
 
 
Editors: Narciso G. (JRC-Ispra) & Balaghi R. (INRA-Morocco) 
 
Contributions: 
INRA-Morocco: 
Badraoui  M., Benaouda H., Beqqali  M., Dahan R., El Hani S., Jlibene M., Mahyou H., 
Mimouni J. Mrabet R. 
JRC-Ispra  B. Baruth, P. Bianchi, A. Klisch, F. Micale 
  
Agrometeorological analysis: The agrometeorological analysis concentrated on three cereal 
production areas which can be considered as representative of the whole.  
Kenitra Province: The temperature level showed limited variations between maximum and minumum. 
Maximum temperatures remained almost constantly below average except for a short period at the end 
of January 2009. Minimum temperatures at times even converged with the maximum. The season has 
been characterized, up to now, by abundant and well distributed precipitation and the cumulated 
rainfall shows an over 46% increase with respect to the long-term average. 
  
Settat Province: Maximum and minimum temperature levels remained largely below average. Minimum 
temperatures also reported two exceptionally low peaks nearing freezing level, at the end of October 
2008 and at the end of January 2009. The consequences of these two events cannot be determined yet. 
Cumulated rainfall shows an increase of almost 50% with respect to the long-term average during the 
period November 2008 to January 2009. 
  
El-Kelaa Province: The temperature trend is similiar to the one described for the Settat Province even 
though minimums remained above freezing level. There was significant precipitation at the beginning of 
the season which was however followed by few events until late January 2009. As a consequence of this 
and differently from the other Provinces, the cumulated rainfall shows a limited increase with respect to 
the average. 
  
  
On average, the levels of the climatic water balance during the period November 2008 to January 2009 
can be placed slightly above the average of the 35 years time series. This is highlighted by the diagramm 
to the right, representing the sorted values across the time series. On the unsorted diagram to the left, 
the level of the climatic water balance appears to follow the cyclic trend that characterizes climate in 
Morocco. The current season shows an inproved level with respect to the previous one. This particular 
condition provides a positive outlook for the season. 
 
  
 
Remote Sensing: NDVI trend analysis 
Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is extensively use worldwide as a measure of vegetation 
vitality, with high NDVI values indicating vigorous vegetation. At national level the NDVI  values show an 
increase from November 2008 to January 2009, with values exceeding both the long term average and 
the 2007-2008 cropping season levels. This trend is confirmed in the central and southern provinces of 
Morocco. In the north-west provinces however there appears to be a steep drop in NDVI at the 
beginning of February which is most probably due to a persistent cloud cover and consequently to 
intense and protracted precipitation. 
 
  
  
  
Remote Sensing: NDVI Image analysis of the agricultural areas 
 
The level of NDVI over most of the 
agricultural areas of Morocco, as 
expected, was rather low at the 
beginning of October. The agricultural 
season is at its start and most of the 
cultivated areas are ploughed and bare. 
As expected good level of vegetative 
activity can be observed on the north–
western coast  and in the Atlas Mountain 
 
The second dekad of January shows very 
high levels of NDVI over most of the 
cultivated areas. 
No significant stress areas can be 
identified with good auspices for the 
seasonal outcome. 
 
The comparison between the “Maximum 
Value Composite” of NDVI during the 
second dekad of January 2008 and that of 
2009 shows an increase over most of the 
agricultural areas. 
Some decrease can be observed across 
the Kenitra and Khemisset Provinces. This 
situation, which is also represented in the 
NDVI diagrams, is probably due to 
persisting cloud cover over the whole 
dekad and also to excess of water on the 
lands.   
Conclusion 
Morocco received high amounts of rainfall during 2008-2009 cropping season, largely above 
normal. This season is going well up to now, as detected by remote sensing, as NDVI is well highest 
historical measures since 1999.  It is still too early to make a final statement on the overall outcome 
(yield) of cereals, but this season is promising if no drought occur during end February and during 
March and also if crop management is efficient. 


Morocco Special Report - February 13, 2009

http://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/bitstream/JRC56647/mo_sr_final_english_120209.pdf

Morocco Special Report - February 13, 2009

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