Worried about the effects of the drought on their crops, cannabis growers are calling on the government for help. Water distress is currently threatening all of Morocco.
The lack of rain and snow is negatively affecting the current agricultural season in Morocco, Mohamed About, head of the Rif Mountain Association (Jibel Rif League), told Hespress. “The region of the Rif mountains (were cannabis, a major resource for the local population, is produced) is no exception. It is also directly affected by the lack of rainfall,” he added. Fearing a dry season, farmers in the region are calling on the government for help.
According to the explanations of Mohamed About, agriculture in the Rif mountains is different from the rest of the regions of Morocco, due to the nature of the terrain and the cold weather prevailing there. The plowing season begins in the Rif mountains in March, while it begins at the start of winter in the rest of the national areas. “The Rif mountains are relatively high and located in the north of the kingdom and therefore experience more or less appropriate snowfall depending on the weather of the seasons. March becomes de facto the most suitable month for the start of the plowing season”, explained the official, adding that the “delay in these areas forces the population to depend on irrigation instead of rain because agriculture is still maturing throughout the summer months”.
