Metro

Dams emptied, economy shrinks as Morocco’s irrigated land decreases over drought

Published

10 months ago

January 17, 2024

The amount of land under irrigation in Morocco has drastically decreased due to six years of drought, which has left the country’s dams at dangerous levels.

According to a royal palace statement, water minister, Nizar Baraka, informed a meeting on Tuesday that by mid-January, Morocco’s average dam filling rate had decreased to 23.2% from 31.5% a year earlier. This information was shared by the country’s agriculture and water ministries on Wednesday.

Morocco’s GHGs has increased significantly since the 1960s, with the nation’s emissions reaching 70.58 million metric tons in 2021. According to the minister, there was 70% less rainfall than in a typical year. Al Masira, the nation’s second-largest dam and the source of economic activity for Casablanca, is nearly empty.

The agriculture industry contributes 20% of GDP and 35% of exports. Wheat and other rainfed crops are essential for the survival of cattle and household food security, but they are also particularly impacted by climate fluctuation. Droughts are therefore becoming more frequent, which poses a “contingent liability” to the Moroccan economy.

Authorities banned the use of drinking water for cleaning streets or irrigating parks in cities due to the worst drought in over 20 years. They also stopped using dam water for irrigating some important farming areas. In the Taroudant region of the Souss, Morocco’s primary fresh vegetable supplier to stores throughout Europe and a significant source of export income, the decision caught many farmers off guard.

A banana and vegetable farmer in Taroudant, Mbark N’Ait Ali, lamented that “stopping dam irrigation has sapped my investments … this year’s production is in danger.”

Wells have dried up in the area, with farmers having to dig down to 400 meters with no guarantee of finding enough
water, he added.

Agriculture minister Sadiki also noted that this “violent drought” had forced a reduction in the dam-irrigated area to 400,000 hectares from 750,000 hectares before the dry spell. adding that “Autumn crops are at a critical condition … we pray for rain.”

The ploughed area with rain-fed cereals has dropped this year to 2.3 million hectares from 3.65 million hectares last year, which was also a dry year, he said.

According to the World Bank, drought damage to the agricultural sector in Morocco affects both rural livelihoods and the national economy as a whole. The situation is increasing in frequency and intensity and is associated with global climate change; this trend will likely be more evident in the future.

Related Topics:climate change Featured Morocco

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Metro

Chinese mining giant CNMC set for $1.6 billion investment in Zambia

Published

9 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Chinese mining giant, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Company (CNMC), has announced the investment of over $1.6 billion in Zambia, following successful discussions with President Hakainde Hichilema at the State House on Tuesday.

CNMC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Wen Gang, who held the discussions with Hichilema along with the Chinese Ambassador to Zambia, Han Jing, confirmed the company’s commitment to furthering Zambia’s economic development.

“We are actively investing in critical sectors of Zambia’s economy,” Gang said after the meeting.

He noted that CNMC was currently pumping water from Shaft 28 at Luanshya Copper Mine, where 29.9 million cubic liters have been cleared as part of intensified dewatering efforts, adding that the company plans to inject an additional $200 million to develop a greenfield mine on the Copperbelt.

President Hichilema who welcomed CNMC’s commitment, highlighted the potential economic impact of the firm’s investment which will include job opportunities for Zambians.

“This $1.6billion investment, alongside advanced technology and expansion, will extend operations and create more jobs and opportunities for Zambians, especially in mining contracting and supply,” the President said.

He also expressed gratitude to Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese government for their shared commitment to fostering growth and cooperation between the two countries.

Metro

Mpox immunisation scarcity slows Kinshasa’s epidemic fight

Published

16 hours ago

November 13, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

A lack of mpox vaccine doses has prevented the Democratic Republic of the Congo from starting a campaign in the capital, Kinshasa, the response commander has confirmed. However, the number of cases nationwide is still rising, particularly among youngsters.

In mid-August, a new strain of pox started to spread from the Congo to neighbouring countries, prompting the WHO to declare a global health emergency. However, according to the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, donors have been hesitant to turn their pledges into cash and vaccines.

The head of operations for Congo’s mpox control program, Cris Kacita, stated on Tuesday that the country needed more than 162,000 doses of vaccine to start a vaccination campaign in the capital, but that 53,921 doses were still available for use in prisons, where inmates are at greater risk because of unsanitary conditions.

The capital, which is home to about 20 million people, has so far been less impacted than other parts of the nation. In six other provinces, vaccination campaigns are now underway.

Along with additional shipments from Germany and the African Union, France has committed to providing 100,000 doses.

He added the arrival of vaccines was also delayed by the administrative process, which includes sending an official request, manufacturing, creating documentation and gaining import authorisations.

“As long as we don’t have the necessary quantity, it’s going to be complicated to launch (vaccination) in the 14 health zones,” Kacita told Reuters, referring to areas of Kinshasa.

According to a health ministry study, from October 28 to November 2, 1,017 new suspected cases were registered nationwide in Congo, including 45 confirmed cases and 16 fatalities.

Since children are almost four times more likely than adults to die from the new strain of mpox, the charity Save the Children warned on Wednesday that targeted vaccines were necessary to halt the virus from spreading quickly among children.

“Children are especially vulnerable to mpox – they explore by touch and taste, don’t always understand health guidance, and have weaker immune systems than adults,” Katia Vieira de Moraes LaCasse from Save the Children said.

According to Africa CDC data, there have been over 42,000 suspected cases of Mpox in the continent, with 1,100 deaths reported so far this year.

The Mpox virus can spread from person to person via intimate contact and also from place to person through objects and surfaces that a person infected with Mpox has touched.