(Ecofin Agency) - Due to persistent drought continues, Morocco’s grain imports are highly likely to explode. While L’Economiste said the kingdom might buy four million tons of wheat, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) forecasts Rabat’s total grain imports at 8.7 million tons, thus 2.2 million tons more than the average over the past five years.

With a projected wheat output of 2.8 million tons of this season (against 8 million tons and 5.1 million tons in 2015-16 and 2014-15 respectively), Morocco will be forced to turn to Europe and the US for its supply. The latter has in fact already made a deal with the kingdom to provide it 1.2 million tons of wheat, at a preferential rate.

In the 2009-10 and 2010-11 cereals seasons which were relatively bad for Morocco, the U.S sent only 428,000 tons and 336,000 tons to the kingdom, Usine Nouvelle recalls.

Aaron Akinocho