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🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Economy & Trade

Middle East War Drives Up Costs for Moroccan Farmers, Threatening Harvest

From Asharq Al-Awsat · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Moroccan farmers, initially hopeful after rare heavy rains, now face soaring costs for fuel and fertilizer due to the Middle East war.
  • The conflict has disrupted maritime traffic, increasing diesel prices and impacting the affordability of essential agricultural supplies.
  • Despite government aid and pledges to improve distribution, farmers report that rising costs continue to erode profits and threaten the expected strong harvest.

Moroccan farmers, who had reason to celebrate the return of much-needed rain after seven years of persistent drought, are now facing a new crisis. The optimism surrounding a potentially abundant harvest has been overshadowed by the escalating costs of agricultural inputs, directly linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. For farmers like Mehdi el-Maazi, the war's impact on global energy markets has translated into significantly higher expenses for essential resources like diesel fuel and fertilizer.

We were happy at first about the arrival of the rain. But with the increase in diesel prices, everything changed.

· Mehdi el-MaaziExpressing the shift in sentiment from relief to concern due to rising fuel costs.

El-Maazi, a lentil farmer from the Marchouch region, recounts how the price of diesel for his tractor has jumped from 1,200 dirhams per hectare to 1,800 dirhams. This surge, coupled with increased costs for seeds, pesticides, and animal feed, is making farming increasingly unsustainable. Abdelkader Toukati, another farmer, echoes these concerns, noting that the cost of renting harvesting machinery has doubled. The sentiment among farmers is one of frustration, as they find themselves "only working to pay for fuel," with little to no profit remaining, as lamented by agricultural machinery renter Abdelaziz Drissi.

the price of diesel will fall before the beginning of the harvest season

· Abdelkader ToukatiVoicing a hope for reduced fuel costs to mitigate financial strain.

While the Moroccan government has announced measures to alleviate rising costs, including aid for transport operators and pledges to improve distribution chains, farmers interviewed by AFP express skepticism. They argue that these measures have yet to curb the escalating prices of essential goods. Rachid Benali, president of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development, points to fuel and fertilizer as the primary drivers of these price hikes. This situation poses a significant challenge to Morocco's agricultural sector, which employs a quarter of the working population and is crucial for the nation's economy, especially after years of drought. The expected five percent economic growth in the first quarter of 2026, partly driven by agriculture, now hangs in the balance.

There is no longer any profit. We are only working to pay for fuel.

· Abdelaziz DrissiDescribing the dire financial situation where operational costs exceed earnings.
About this summary

Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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