This reporting period covers the main growing stage of wheat, while maize planting started in February. The CropWatch agro-climatic indicators show that the recorded rainfall was 163 mm, 25% less than the average of the last 15 years (15YA). The rainfall index graph shows that the rainfall was less than the 15YA except for the first of February and late March, when the rainfall exceeded the 15YA. The average temperature was 1.8°C higher the 15YA. Generally, the temperature index graph shows that the temperature was above the 15YA. Both RADPAR and BIOMSS were below the 15YA by 14% and 30%. The nationwide NDVI crop development graph shows that the crop conditions were below the 5-year average (5YA). The NDVI profile map indicates that about 16.5% of cultivated areas were above the 5YA, 64.3% were below the 5YA, and 19.3% fluctuated around the 5YA. The VCIx was at 0.76, and the CALF was below the 5YA by 30%, implying that the conditions for wheat production were unfavorable. The nationwide crop production index (CPI) was at 0.76, implying a below-normal crop production situation.

Regional Analysis

CropWatch divided the areas that are relevant to crop production in Morocco into three agroecological zones (AEZs): the Sub-humid northern highlands (zone 125), the warm semiarid zone (zone 126), and the warm sub-humid zone (zone 127).

Rainfall was below the 15YA by 22%, 45, and 16%, while the temperature was higher than the 15YA by 1.7°C, 1.8°C, and 1.6°C in the three zones in their listed order, respectively. RADPAR was higher than  the 15YA by 6%, 3%, and 4%, while the BIOMSS was lower than the 15YA by 17%, 7%, and 9% in the three zones in their listed order, respectively. The NDVI development graph shows that crop conditions were below the average in the three zones following the nationwide NDVI  profile during the monitoring period except for the warm sub-humid zone, where the NDVI profile was at the 5YA starting from late March. The cropped arable land fraction (CALF) was below the 5YA by 22%, 59%, and 14%.  The maximum VCI value was 0.62, 0.32, and 0.66 for zones 125, 126, and 127 respectively, implying below-average crop conditions. In three zones, the CPI was at 0.83, 0.41, and 0.89, respectively, implying a below-normal crop production situation following the nationwide CPI.

Figure 3.44 Morocco's crop condition, January-April 2024

(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) (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, January-April 2024

Table 3.46 Morocco's agronomic indicators by sub-national regions, current season's values, and departure from 5YA, January-April 2024