During this monitoring period, wheat, barley and maize reached maturity. Harvest typically takes place in early May. 

As reported in the previous bulletin, Morocco suffered from a severe drought during the January to February period, which caused crop failures (mainly wheat and barley) in the southern regions of the country. The situation was slightly better in the north. As the rainfall improved in March, some farmers replanted their fields with short season legume crops. 

Overall crop conditions in Morocco during the monitoring period (April-July) were unfavourable. The cumulative rainfall reached 115 mm, which was 36% above the 15-year average (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that the rainfall was higher than the 15YA during April and May. The average temperature reached 20.6 ℃ (0.3 ℃ above the 15YA).   The RADPAR was 1543 MJ/m2 (3.5% below the 15YA).

The nationwide NDVI development graph indicates below-average crop conditions during the whole monitoring period. The NDVI spatial pattern shows that only 30.5% of the cultivated area was above the 5YA crop conditions and 69.6% were below. Estimated BIOMSS (-2%) was below average for this monitoring period. The VCIx value was just 0.58, indicating poor nationwide crop conditions. The CALF was below the 5YA by 30%, which can be attributed to the crop failures observed during the previous monitoring period. 

Regional Analysis

CropWatch delineates three agro‐ecological zones (AEZs) relevant for crop production in Morocco: the Sub-humid northern highlands, the Warm semiarid zone, and the Warm subhumid zone.

Sub-humid northern highlands: rainfall was above the 15YA by 58%. The RADPAR reached 1500 MJ/m2 (-5%) while the BIOMSS was near average. The NDVI profile confirms generally good crop conditions, as it was above the 5YA throughout the monitoring period. The CALF increased by 3% over the 5YA, and the average VCIx was 0.87, which confirms the near average conditions. 

Warm semiarid zone: Rainfall was 16% higher than the 15YA; RADPAR was 3% below the 15YA. The resulting reduction in BIOMSS was 7%, mainly due to a reduction in RADPAR. CALF was 61% below the 5YA, which can be attributed to the severe drought observed in January and February. The maximum VCI for this zone was only 0.4, indicating below-average crop conditions. The NDVI profile confirms the generally poor crop conditions, as it was below the 5YA throughout the monitoring period. 

Warm sub-humid zone: the average rainfall was 150 mm (43% above the 5YA). The RADPAR was 4% below 15YA, while the BIOMSS was 3% above the average. The CALF was below the 5YA average by 26%. The estimated VCIx was moderate (0.7). The crop condition development graph based on NDVI indicated below-average conditions until May, when the crops were harvested. Conditions were unfavorable for this zone.

Figure 3.28 Morocco’s crop condition, April-July 2020

(a). Phenology of major crops

                                (b) Crop condition development graph based on NDVI                                                   (c)  Maximum VCI

                                                                                 (d) Spatial NDVI patterns compared to 5YA                       (e) NDVI profiles

                                                                                                    (f). Crop condition development graph based on NDVI (Sub-humid northern highlands).and (g). Warm semiarid zones ) 

                                                                                                                                    (h) . crop condition development graph based on NDVI, Warm subhumid zones.

                                       (i) Time series profile of rainfall                                                                                                                      （j)Time series profile of temperature

Table 3.47 Morocco’s agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values and departure from 15YA, April-July 2020

Table 3.48 Morocco’s agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season’s values and departure from 5YA, April-July 2020