Rural communes near the city of Ksar el-Kebir, recently declared disaster zones by the government, are seeing an intensified effort by agricultural officials to assess crop losses caused by flooding and torrential rains.

Employees and workers from the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Loukkos have been conducting field surveys in recent days to identify damaged farmland and determine the extent of losses after floods submerged large areas and destroyed crops.

Officials overseeing the assessment said the process of cataloging affected farmers, fields and the degree of damage could be completed by the end of this week.

Local sources said the survey is being carried out according to a structured plan. Authorities are recording the size of each plot, the type of crops that were planted and the personal details of farmers in order to prepare for potential support measures.

Farmers in the region are anxiously awaiting details of the expected assistance and its final form, as it will determine what crops they choose to plant in the second half of the agricultural year.

Next week is considered decisive, as the second week of March marks an advanced stage in the calendar for spring crops in the area, particularly chickpeas, beans and sunflower.

Some farmers expressed concern about committing to a single crop, warning that oversupply could hurt marketing prospects and drive down prices. They are calling for closer guidance and advisory support from the Agriculture Ministry to help diversify production and improve yields.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests has previously said, through Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari, that it aims to ensure a fresh start for affected farmers by supporting access to seeds for spring and forage crops, as well as providing assistance with fertilizers.

Source - https://en.hespress.com