Vegetable Farming Revives After Drought

Casablanca-Settat's vegetable sector has expanded again after several drought-hit seasons, according to figures published in Moroccan media from the regional agriculture directorate. The 2025-2026 campaign reached 56,709 hectares of market-garden crops, up 12% from the previous season and above the official target for the year. Regional officials attributed the rebound to improved rainfall and support measures for farmers. The figures point to a broader recovery in one of Morocco's main food-producing regions, where rainfall had lagged for years before improving during the current campaign. ### How large is the rebound in vegetable planting? The regional agriculture directorate said the area devoted to vegetable crops in Casablanca-Settat reached 56,709 hectares in the 2025-2026 campaign. That was 12% higher than the previous campaign and represented 103% of the planned program of 54,851 hectares, according to reports published on August 11 and August 13. (leconomiste.com) Autumn, winter and spring crops all exceeded their targets, with completion rates of 107%, 117% and 106%, respectively, the directorate said through local media reports. Those figures suggest the rebound was not limited to a single planting window. ### Which crops are driving the recovery? Autumn vegetables covered 17,439 hectares, including 7,040 hectares of potatoes, 2,920 hectares of onions and 2,910 hectares of carrots, according to the regional agriculture directorate's breakdown. (2m.ma) Winter crops extended over 19,386 hectares, including 9,530 hectares of potatoes and 4,550 hectares of onions. (aujourdhui.ma) Spring vegetables occupied 14,248 hectares, with 2,692 hectares planted with potatoes and 2,390 hectares with onions, the same report said. Summer market gardening had started on 5,636 hectares, equal to 59% of the forecast program at the time the figures were released. ### What changed after the drought years? (aujourdhui.ma) March 6 rainfall in Casablanca-Settat had reached about 458 mm, up 214% from the same point in the previous campaign and about 55% above a normal agricultural season, according to a March report citing the regional agriculture directorate. Benslimane recorded 742 mm, the highest total among the region's provinces cited in that report. (aujourdhui.ma) The directorate said the heavy precipitation helped revive farming activity after successive dry seasons, improved crop conditions and supported water resources. In August coverage, the same administration said the campaign's performance reflected favorable climatic conditions, farmers' mobilization and support measures carried out with sector partners. (lematin.ma) ### Why does Casablanca-Settat matter for food supply? Casablanca-Settat is one of Morocco's main agricultural regions and a significant supplier to urban markets, according to regional campaign reports carried by Moroccan outlets. August reports on the vegetable campaign said the larger planted area was expected to strengthen regular market supplies of vegetables. (lematin.ma) The recovery in vegetables has unfolded alongside a wider improvement in field crops. In March, farmers in the region had completed nearly all of the planned autumn cropping program, covering about 963,320 hectares, including roughly 852,555 hectares of autumn cereals, according to Le Matin's report citing the regional agriculture directorate. (aujourdhui.ma) ### What should readers watch next? The next concrete marker is the summer vegetable program, which stood at 5,636 hectares, or 59% of plan, when the August figures were published. Further updates are likely to come from the Direction régionale de l'agriculture de Casablanca-Settat and Moroccan business outlets that carried the August campaign data. (aujourdhui.ma) (lematin.ma)