Moroccan grains struggle with lack of rain

Morocco’s wheat and barley crops development in the 2011/2012 season is behind schedule with rain absence during a critical growth period.

The rain resumed on April 2012 but did not reach the threshold so for the wheat to recover.

The official estimate for the 2010/2011 grain planted area was revised down from 4.95 to 4.86 million HA which is 5 per cent lower compared to the previous season.

Wheat planted area is currently estimated at 3.017 million HA, of which 2.051 million HA of soft wheat and 0.966 million HA of durum wheat.

Wheat import duties suspension would end April 30 and strong rumors about import duties suspension would be extended on soft and durum wheat until May 31, and December 31, 2012 respectively.

Morocco’s import market is expected to reopen for soft wheat effective mid August or beginning September 2012.