Exploring the Key Drivers of Crop Yields in Morocco -A Systematic Review

Soumia Achli ^1* Victor Ongoma ¹ Terence Epule Epule ² Driss Dhiba ¹ Wiam Salih ¹ Lahcen Ousayd ¹ ABDELGHANI CHEHBOUNI ¹

• ¹ Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Ben Guerir, Morocco
• ² Université du Québec en Abitibi Témiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, Canada

The growth and sustainability of Morocco's agricultural sector face significant socioenvironmental challenges, threatening food security and economic development. There is a need for a comprehensive assessment of the challenges for informed decision-making at a national to farm scale. This review identifies and analyzes the key drivers of crop yields in Morocco, both climatic and non-climatic factors, including socio-economic and biophysical drivers, focusing on grain crops. Reviewing 135 relevant peer-reviewed and grey literature sources published between 1990 and 2024 affirms wheat's important role in the food system in Morocco. Precipitation was identified as the primary driver significantly influencing crop yields, with a notable focus in approximately 15.6% of the analyzed literature. Other critical drivers include irrigation, fertilization, water stress, temperature, technical efficiency, soil properties, conservation agriculture, insects and pests, sowing date, drought, crop varieties and genetics, diseases, herbicides, and other climatic events. These factors interact in complex ways to affect crop yields, with precipitation and irrigation playing pivotal roles in mitigating water stress and enhancing growth. The information derived from this study is essential to inform policy makers, and farmers about the underlying drivers influencing crop yields in Morocco. This informs the basis for impact-based analysis, and evidence-based decision-making to improve the productivity and sustainability of the Moroccan agricultural sector.