Morocco
Morocco said Wednesday it will launch a nearly10 billion dirhams ($1 billion) aid programme to help its agriculture industry, which has been hit hard by a particularly acute drought in recent years.
The emergency plan "aims to mitigate the effects of delay in rainfall, to alleviate the impact on agricultural activity and to provide assistance to the farmers and livestock breeders affected", the royal palace said in a statement.
The plan will cost a total of 10 billion dirhams ($1 billion).
Despite hopes of a reprieve from the drought, the national rainfall average is 75 millimetres, down two-thirds compared to a normal season, the royal cabinet said.
And dam reserves have plummeted, filled at a level of just 33% as of Wednesday, compared to 48% this time last year, official data showed.
The kingdom's economy, already hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, is heavily dependent on agriculture, which contributes 12% of GDP.
01:15
Morocco says 2024 was the hottest year with temperatures reaching 47.7 degrees
Go to video
Morocco to reassess Turkey trade deal amid swelling deficit
02:08
Gunman attack in north-central Nigeria: death toll climbs to 150
11:14
Rwanda Walks Away: what’s behind the Central Africa rift? [Business Africa]
01:10
Ghana ends support to Western Sahara, backs Moroccan autonomy plan instead
Go to video
Ghanaian citizens can now travel to Morocco without a visa