(Ecofin Agency) - Morocco could produce 9.82 million tons of cereal by the end of the ongoing season (2017-18). This was announced yesterday April 23 by the agriculture minister Aziz Akhannouch (photo).

This volume is slightly above (+3%) that of last season and significantly beyond the recent forecasts (8 million tons). It is mainly attributable to abundant and frequent rainfall (up 16% from one year to another), well distributed across cultivation zones.

For the record, the expected volume which will be achieved over 4.5 million hectares, includes 4.81 million tons of soft wheat, 2.28 million tons of durum and 2.73 million tons of barley.

Mr. Akhannouch said that subsequent to this good production, the government will lower wheat imports and increase customs duties on these imports by May this year.

Espoir Olodo