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Farmers

Drought-Tolerant Wheat and Barley Varieties Aim to Strengthen Food Security in Morocco

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

As Morocco struggles with severe drought and record drops in cereal production, international organizations and local researchers are developing drought-tolerant wheat and barley varieties to improve the livelihoods and resilience of farmers in the region. The six promising new varieties, developed by ICARDA and the National Institute of Agricultural Research, have been specifically designed to withstand increasingly severe droughts and harsh climatic conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • ICARDA has developed six drought-tolerant durum wheat and barley varieties: Nachit, Jabal, Jawahir, Chiffa, Assiya, and Khnata.
  • These varieties have been specifically designed to withstand severe drought and harsh climatic conditions.
  • Nachit was released by INRA in 2017 and has substantial grains and deep roots, suitable for collecting water from the soil's deepest part.
  • Jabal was released in 2021 and is a very rustic variety derived from wild goat grass, characterized by a tall stance ideal for producing straw.
  • Jawahir is the latest addition, released in 2022, and is the top-performing variety in terms of yield and semolina color.
  • Chiffa is a "food and fodder" barley variety with easy thresh-ability and high-glucan content, a dietary fiber with many health benefits.
  • Assiya is a "food and fodder" barley variety with easy thresh-ability, high grain and straw production, and excellent resistance to net blotch disease.
  • Khnata is a "feed" barley variety with high grain and straw production, increasing farm profitability and resilience.
  • The new varieties result from more than a decade of research, incorporating the genetic resources of ancient wild relatives' species into today's staple crops.

Statistics:

  • Total cereal production dropped by 69% in the 2021-22 season - the worst harvest in recent years.
  • Pilot farmers using the new varieties and zero till systems could produce up to 40% more tonnes per hectare in severe drought conditions.
  • Last year, pilot farmers achieved yields of 1.5 tonnes per hectare, compared to 0.5-1t/ha for most farmers.
  • The new varieties have already been tested and are being used by Australian seed companies.

Sources:

  • Brooke Littlewood's article in The Farm Weekly
  • ICARDA's research on drought-tolerant durum wheat and barley varieties
  • INRA's release of the new varieties (2016-2022)
  • Crop Trust's project on the use of wild relatives (no specific date provided)

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