Fifty thousand quintals of subsidised barley have been made available to farmers and breeders in the province of Essaouira during the current agricultural season as part of the programme to combat the impacts of drought.

The Provincial Directorate of Agriculture (DPA) of Essaouira indicates that the barley is sold at 2 DH per kilogram at a rate of 16 quintals per beneficiary, while transport is provided by the DPA for landlocked areas.

Within the framework of the measures taken in accordance with the Royal High Instructions, the DPA also provides direct aid to cattle breeders, i.e., 200 DH per cow (with a maximum of 5 cows) for 3 months.

Concerning the watering of livestock, the DPA has proceeded to the development of existing water points, the creation of new points and the development of two ghdirs.

The measures taken also concern the vaccination of livestock through a vaccination campaign for sheep, cattle, goats and beehives.

Within the framework of the measures taken, the DPA has also set up a maintenance programme for existing plantations (mainly olive and carob trees).

As a reminder, the province of Essaouira has a livestock of 667,000 heads, including 320,000 sheep, 300,000 goats and 47,000 cattle. Like the other regions and provinces of the Kingdom, it has been affected by a rainfall deficit and low cumulative precipitation, which recorded 102.1 mm (70 mm in 2 days) until the end of January compared to 307 mm during the 2014-2015 agricultural season.

These precipitations, which are characterised by poor distribution in time and space, have had an impact on rangelands, which has increased the use of Souks for the purchase of livestock feed.

The agricultural season did not take place under good conditions, the DPA emphasises, noting furthermore that only 68,000 ha were sown out of 184,000 ha programmed, i.e., 37% of the programmed area.