Rabat: Morocco has officially declared the end of a prolonged seven-year drought following significantly above-average rainfall during the current winter season, Water Minister Nizar Baraka announced on Monday.
Addressing members of parliament, Baraka said winter rainfall levels have surged 95 per cent compared to the same period last year and stand 17 per cent above the seasonal average. The improvement has led to a marked recovery in the country’s water reserves, with the average dam-filling rate rising to 46 per cent. Several major reservoirs have now reached full capacity, according to official figures.
The increased rainfall has brought much-needed relief to Morocco’s agricultural sector, which had been severely affected by years of water shortages and restrictions. Prolonged drought conditions had reduced wheat production, shrunk the national cattle herd, and resulted in widespread job losses across farming communities.
Morocco’s water infrastructure had also come under sustained pressure, with critically low dam levels prompting the government to fast-track long-term solutions, including large-scale desalination projects.
The government now plans to supply 60 per cent of the country’s drinking water from treated seawater by 2030, up from a previously targeted 25 per cent. This strategy is aimed at conserving dam water for inland regions that are more vulnerable to water stress.
Officials say the return of consistent rainfall offers a vital window to stabilise water resources, support agricultural recovery and strengthen Morocco’s long-term water security in the face of climate variability.
