During this monitoring period, wheat reached maturity by the end of April and was harvested in May and June, while Maize matured by the end of May and is harvested in June and July. The cumulative rainfall was 74 mm which is 20% below the 15-year average (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that the rain was higher than the 15YA from mid-May to the first of June. The average temperature was 21.2 ℃ which is higher than 15YA by 1.0 ℃. The temperature index graph fluctuated around 15YA during the monitoring period. Both RADPAR and BIOMSS were below the 15YA by 1.4% and 4%, respectively. The nationwide NDVI development graph indicates that the crop conditions were below the 5-year average (5YA) during the monitoring period. The NDVI spatial pattern shows that the crop conditions were below the 5YA. This can be confirmed by the NDVI cluster map, where all NDVI clusters were below the 5YA. This also can be attributed to drought conditions due to a reduction in rainfall. The CALF was below the 5-year average (5YA) by 49%, with the VCIx value reaching 0.50, confirming unfavorable crop conditions. The nationwide crop production index (CPI) was at 0.62, implying a below normal crop production situation. In addition, CALF was almost 50% below the 5YA.

Regional Analysis

CropWatch delineates three agroecological zones (AEZs) relevant to crop production in Morocco: the Sub-humid northern highlands (area identified as 125 in the crop condition clusters map), the Warm semiarid zone (126), and the Warm subhumid zone (127).

The rainfall was below the 15YA by 9%, 39%, and 7%, while the temperature was above the 15YA by 0.8℃, 1.0℃, and 0.8℃ for the Sub-humid northern highlands, the Warm semiarid zone, and the Warm subhumid zone respectively. The RADPAR was below the 15YA by 1%, 1%, and 2%, and the BIOMSS was below the 15YA by 4%, 4%, and 3% for the Sub-humid northern highlands, the Warm semiarid zone, and the Warm subhumid zone respectively. The NDVI-based crop condition development graphs show similar conditions for the three zones following the national crop development NDVI graph. The CALF was below the 5YA by 49%, 80%, and 36%, and the VCIx was 0.58, 0.38, and 0.64 for the Sub-humid northern highlands, the Warm semiarid zone, and the Warm subhumid zone, respectively, confirming unfavorable crop conditions. The CPI was at 0.48, 0.30, and 0.74 in the Sub-humid northern highlands, the Warm semi-arid zone, and the Warm sub-humid zone, respectively, implying a below-normal crop production situation. 

Figure 3.27 Morocco's crop condition, April-July 2023

(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 3.45 Morocco's agroclimatic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values, and departure from 15YA, April-July 2023

Table 3.46 Morocco's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values, and departure from 5YA, April-July 2023