Just a few weeks ago, producers were still facing a prolonged drought, which had entered its seventh year. Today, after continuous rainfall, some dams are overflowing, reviving flood concerns—particularly in the north of the country, where the city of Ksar El Kébir had to be evacuated. The Moroccan government has officially announced the end of the drought.
Souss Massa: limited damage, but rising concerns over quality and exports
In the Souss Massa region, one of Morocco’s main agricultural production areas, weather-related damage remains relatively moderate. However, it is raising concerns about fruit and vegetable quality as well as export volumes. According to Agadir-based grower Amine Amanatoullah, the arrival of torrential rains has reinforced concerns anticipated since summer: increasing phytosanitary pressure and the widening gap between growers’ needs and the solutions currently available on the market, whether in crop protection tools or resistant varieties.
More stable weather locally, but higher humidity creates new challenges
The grower describes climatic conditions in Souss Massa as relatively moderate compared to other regions, yet still problematic. “The climate is extreme in other parts of Morocco, but here in Souss Massa, it is finally stabilizing after years of drought. We experienced all four seasons, with temperatures favorable for early vegetable production and, above all, no flooding like in the north. However, we are now facing issues caused by rain, especially higher humidity levels than usual.”
Varieties: the main pressure point under rising disease risk
According to Amanatoullah, the key challenge in Souss Massa is not climate itself, but the suitability of available varieties. “We have long lived with an arid climate, and our main problem was viruses such as ToBRFV in tomatoes. Today, growers in Souss Massa are facing a major issue with late blight, which is encouraged by humidity. Tomato varieties resistant to viruses are not necessarily resistant to late blight, leading to widespread quality issues.”
Water resources: dam levels restored, but temporary reliance on desalination
On the positive side, the long-awaited rainfall has restored dam levels to near pre-drought conditions, including in Souss Massa, even though rainfall there remains lower than in other regions. However, producers will still need to rely on the nearby desalination plant—a critical lifeline—until pipelines connecting the dams, currently under maintenance, are repaired. According to Amanatoullah, this could take one to two months.
Europe: shortages on shelves and increased buyer tolerance
Three months ago, the grower warned of a potential shortage of export tomatoes from February onward due to sanitary and varietal challenges. Today, he says the shortage is clearly visible in European retail markets. “We are seeing major quality issues affecting export volumes. Tomato yields depend not only on weather, but also on economic factors such as the target market and the commercial window each producer operates in. Currently, tomatoes for the domestic market—which is less demanding in terms of appearance and size—are available in sufficient quantities. However, yield deficits are strongly felt in European markets.”
According to Amanatoullah, shortages are so significant that buyers are showing greater tolerance than usual this season, prioritizing supply and accepting additional sorting and repacking at destination.
Logistics: delays, port congestion and reduced quality upon arrival
Quality issues at destination are being further worsened by logistical disruptions, indirectly linked to extreme weather events in northern Morocco. Amanatoullah explains: “Products are facing long delays, sometimes with transit times doubled, due to logistical disruption and the suspension of maritime rotations between Morocco and Spain, which has created congestion at ports. Tomatoes sometimes arrive in poor condition, even if they were packed in good condition in Agadir.”
A period of adjustment and an urgent need for adapted varieties
For growers, this difficult period reflects a natural transition between two opposite weather cycles. According to Amanatoullah, “the transition is positive. We were desperate for the drought to end. Now we must readjust—just like our ecosystem: nurseries, seed breeders and crop protection suppliers. Once again, we urgently need adapted and resistant varieties.”
A more optimistic outlook for the next season
Amanatoullah concludes on a positive note: “The coming season promises to be exceptionally good for the country’s agricultural production, across all fruits and vegetables, I hope. Once the floods are behind us, Moroccan growers will be ready with better-quality produce, better flavor, improved sizes and higher yields. Those who endured all these years of drought, showed resilience and insisted on continuing production will be rewarded with a greater ability to benefit from the results.”