Exploring How Moroccan Farmers in Khemisset Province Adapt to Climate Change: Perceptions and Strategies ^†

Abstract

Climate change negatively affects agricultural productivity by altering weather patterns, increasing the frequency of extreme events, and disrupting growing seasons. These changes lead to reduced crop yields, soil degradation, and challenges to food security. This research investigates how climate change affects plant cultivation and agricultural farming operations in Khemisset Province of Morocco. A research study based on surveys of 120 farmers combines quantitative and qualitative methods to determine their views about climate change and their adaptive measures. The researchers select their farmers according to land conditions, plant life, and livestock management patterns. The obtained data demonstrate climate parameter deterioration throughout the period extending from 1985 to 2015, which corresponds with meteorological measurements. Climate variability produces adverse environmental effects which negatively affect agricultural output. The Zemmour tribe members and other farmers use different agricultural adaptation strategies, including fertilizer application, rotational cropping, and planting maturation-premature seeds. The research findings highlight the necessity of developing specific adaptation methods that defend agricultural sectors against climate change risks and secure food supplies. This investigation adds to climate resilience knowledge by delivering important findings that guide agricultural sustainability policy development and implementation.

1. Introduction

Agriculture represents Morocco’s core national economic pillar, employing numerous people and producing central economic value from GDP [1]. Moroccan farmers face increasing difficulties in their small-scale rainfed agriculture due to the severe effects of climate change that combine higher temperatures with reduced rainfall [2]. Global climate change threatens agricultural outputs significantly, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), because it modifies temperature sequences, downregulates precipitation, and heightens the frequency of unusual meteorological occurrences [3,4]. The climate modifications affect food security, rural economies, and overall economic stability in agricultural-dependent areas [5,6].

Multiple studies have shown how climate change negatively affects agricultural harvesting systems. Scientific investigations demonstrate that temperature increases result in yield declines through two impacts: speeding up plant development and causing water stress from increased evapotranspiration [7,8]. The decrease in rainfall intensifies soil dryness, resulting in lower agricultural yields in rainfed farming systems [9]. The spread and prevalence of agricultural pests and diseases are influenced by climate variability, thus causing farmers to lose additional yields [10]. According to projections, climate change will reduce agricultural output in Morocco, resulting in the departures of farmers into non-agricultural professions or the need for them to adopt new adaptive practices [11].

Farmers form their adaptive strategies based on their perceptions of climate change. The research demonstrates that farmers understand temperature and rainfall pattern changes; nevertheless, their ability to adapt remains restricted because of scarce funds, inadequate institutional backing, and deficient awareness about effective adaptation practices [12]. Farmers deploy multiple measures for adaptation, such as adjusting planting schedules, planting drought-tolerant crops, establishing soil and water management practices, and bringing alternative income streams through non-agricultural activities [13]. These strategies succeed to different degrees based on available resources, local policies, and area climate conditions.

The impacts of climate change lead to a fundamental shift in people’s jobs from agricultural to non-agricultural sectors. Morocco and other developing nations witness an increasing number of individuals migrating from rural to urban areas because of the declining success of smallholder agricultural operations [14]. Farmers, mostly from younger generations, must leave their fields because decreasing agricultural productivity leads them to find employment in urban areas, thus worsening economic inequalities between urban and rural areas [15]. Policymakers need a clear understanding of these changes in the agricultural sectors to design multicompartmental policies that build sustainable farm adaptations and nationwide economic durability.

The expanding literature about climate change effects on agriculture lacks research on the precise adaptations used by Moroccan small-scale farmers and their opinions on official support. The study investigates how climate change affects small-scale farmers in Morocco to evaluate their current adaptations and requirements for governmental assistance. Targeted agricultural policies to boost adaptation capabilities will be created through research incorporating knowledge from agricultural stakeholders and scientific experts.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Study Area

The study was conducted in Khemisset province in the Rabat–Sale–Kenitra region—all territories under its jurisdiction amount to 8305 square kilometers. Khemisset province was created as an administrative entity through Royal Decree 19/08/73 in 1973. The location of Khemisset province rests 86 km east of Rabat at 33°49′00″ north latitude and 6°04′00″ west longitude with an elevation of 409 m above sea level. The administrative area of Khemisset province occupies 8305 km² of land, which borders Kenitra province to the north and Khenifra along with Khouribga to the south. In contrast, Rabat, Sale, and Benslimane provinces enclose it from the west, and Meknes and Ifrane provinces make up its eastern boundary (Figure 1). There are three main edaphic and climatic zonings across the study area, beginning with the southeastern Oulmes Cercle (1000 mm/year humid mountainous region). In the north, the sandy location is under the maritime influence in the Cercle de Tiflet, Khemisset, and Rommani (400 mm/year), and in the southwest, there is the arid to the semi-arid plateau of Ezhiliga (250 mm/year). The total annual precipitation amounts to 368,109 mm. October through April makes up the rainy period of the year and reaches its peak precipitation during December. The summer season brings little rainfall while remaining dry [16].

An Amazigh ethnic group of the Middle Atlas (Zemmours Zaers and Zaïnes) existed along the Khemisset–Khenifra axis before the history of Morocco. HCP (2014) indicates that Khemisset Province had 542,221 residents distributed into 281,079 urban dwellers and 261,142 rural inhabitants based on the 2014 census data [17]. The study area is one of Morocco’s key agricultural locations because it has extensive cultivable land and supports favorable climatic conditions and various edapho-climatic regions [16]. The socioeconomic situation throughout this research area depends entirely on variable seasonal rainfall patterns. The dominant agricultural system in the area gives prominence to combined farming between cereal production and forest management alongside commercial wheat cultivation and livestock management [18,19].

2.2. Methodology

2.2.1. Data Design

Data collection involved fieldwork with private discussions and participatory rural appraisal to let locals both evaluate and plan through their indigenous knowledge. The sampling strategy followed the crop selection method as well as climate conditions and soil characteristics. The study area included four study regions, Sfassif, El Kansera, Sid El Alghandour, and Sidi Abderrazzak, where eleven target locations were chosen with distribution over their respective sections. The study in Sfassif contained three strata named Ait Makraz, Ait Alla, and Chbilia, where each group received ten respondents for the survey. The 15 respondents in Ait Laasri lived in Al Kansera as part of the study. The researchers also included 10 respondents in Ait Heddou and Ait Ali O Moussa. Ait Hemmi and Lalla Rahma were chosen within Sidi Alghandour and 10 respondents from each group. The study sample from Sidi Abderrazzak contained the locations of Kaabat and Ait Amer O Benaissa, with 10 respondents each until Ait Kassou brought the total to 15 participants (Figure 1).

The chosen strata started from their economic status and population statistics, focusing on people who maintained their traditional way of making a living by herding animals and practicing small commercial trade and local handmade crafts. These communities specifically targeted different rural populations through selection procedures that included diverse population characteristics from various social structures, resource distribution, and settled history patterns. The chosen strata represent communities with unique household arrangements, cultural traditions, and governance organizations necessary to grasp community development issues.

The sheet includes information regarding farmers with a priority focus on respondent details (sex, age, education level, marital status). The questionnaire includes information about farmers’ perspectives on rainfall variations (thermal and solar) coupled with observations on drought frequency and the origins and consequences of climate changes and their reaction strategies (animal husbandry, improved cereal types, crop rotation, good farming practices, sowing dates, and cereal-to-olive conversions). The study area consists of Amazigh speakers, so researchers conducted interviews through Amazigh. The translator processed all the documented information into English after conducting the interviews. Every interview lasted between thirty and sixty minutes.

2.2.2. Data Analysis

The study results were synthesized and grouped into major themes relevant to the study. The data from the field were examined and then presented using diagrams, tables, and charts to illustrate the various problems and trends used in the study. Data processing was conducted using the SPSS software, version 21, for accurate and comprehensive analysis. It was decided that the analysis would be performed based on the study’s aims to answer the research questions and fully understand the findings. The methodical process of integrating the data provided a much better insight into trends and relationships available to make evidence-supported conclusions.

3. Results and Discussion

This analysis presents one hundred twenty interviews with farmers from Khemisset province through the thematic organization to improve clarity. The study presents the following major themes: (1) informant demographics, (2) farmer perceptions about climate variability, (3) identified causes and impacts of climate change, and (4) farmers’ adaptation strategies against climatic changes. The data benefit from thematic organization instead of time-based interview display because this approach creates a structure that facilitates easy data understanding. The method aims to reveal significant findings and patterns discovered during field investigations through this organizational scheme. The analysis order enhances the link between researcher findings and their application towards understanding community adaptation to climate change.

3.1. Socio-Demographic Data

Semi-structured questionnaires were used to interview a total of 120 local farmers. The surveyed farmers were from 11 regions including Ait Laasri (15 farmers), Kaabat (10 farmers), Ait Hemmi (10 farmers), Ait Makraz (10 farmers), Ait Amer O Benaissa (10 farmers), Chbilia (10 farmers), Lalla Rahma (10 farmers), Ait Ali O Moussa (10 farmers), Ait Kassou15 farmers), Ait Alla (10 farmers), and Ait Heddou (10 farmers). Most farmers (n = 108) interviewed in the study area were male, compared to only 12 female farmers. The informants’ ages ranged from 23 to 120 years. The age class of 40–60 was much more numerous than the other groups (60 farmers). Thus, 30 farmers were ≥60 years old, 20 were ≥20 and <40, and 10 were <20. In terms of marital status, 91 farmers were married, 19 were single, 9 were widowed, and 1 was divorced. The largest group, with 87 farmers, was illiterate, whereas 20 attended elementary school and only 13 attended secondary school (

Table 1. The demographic data of the respondents.

Study Area	Name of the Strate	No. of Respondents	Instructional Status			Sex
			Illiterate	Primary	Secondary	Male	Female
Sfassif	Ait Makraz	10	8	1	1	9	1
	Ait Alla	10	7	2	1	9	1
	Chbilia	10	8	1	1	9	1
Al Kansera	Ait Laasri	15	10	3	2	13	2
	Ait Heddou	10	6	2	2	9	1
	Ait Ali O Moussa	10	8	1	1	9	1
Sidi Alghandour	Ait Hemmi	10	9	1	0	10	0
	Lalla Rahma	10	8	1	1	8	2
Sidi Abderrazzak	Kaabat	10	6	3	1	9	1
	Ait Kassou	15	8	4	3	14	1
	Ait Amer O Benaissa	10	9	1	0	9	1

). The majority of questioned farmers (66%) had two or fewer plots. In addition, 37 farmers had plots ranging from 2 to 5. In comparison, there were only 11 farmers with more than five plots.

3.2. Farmer Perceptions

According to the type of soil, the four towns chosen randomly and stratified relate most to recent developments of the past 20 years in their perceptions of climate change, and they are concerned about changes in precipitation, temperatures, pockets of drought, and winds. These viewpoints are articulated as follows.

3.2.1. Perceptions of Changes in Rainfall

The data show that more than 70% of respondents in the four communes anticipate rainfall to decrease: 83.33% in Sfassif, 90.00% in Al Kansera, 93.33% in Sidi Al Ghandour, and 100% in Sidi Abderrazzak. Consequently, throughout the previous two decades, the vast majority of farmers polled (85%) reported a delayed start to the rainy season. However, only 15% of the study area’s population recalls an early start of rainfall. The farmers’ observations about diminished precipitation match the downward precipitation trend documented by historical climate records during the last two decades [20]. The researchers documented this climatic pattern across Sfassif along with Al Kansera, Sidi Al Ghandour, and Sidi Abderrazzak. According to these farmers, most of them identify delayed rainy season periods that match the recorded climatic alterations. The research results confirm the Khalifa et al. [21] discovery about the rising rainfall unpredictability in Maghreb that complicates agricultural practices across the region. The study presents conflicting observations about early rainfall since just 15% of respondents reported this occurrence, yet this pattern differs from other parts of Africa where research has shown earlier rainfall, according to Tripathi and Singh [22]. Research findings about rainfall decline in the analyzed communes support the climate change predictions made by IPCC [23] regarding disrupted precipitation patterns. The research findings join other published works that show climate variability effects on agricultural systems while confirming that farming communities require adaptive measures to sustain agriculture under changing climate patterns.

3.2.2. Perceptions of the Frequency of Drought Pockets

National climate change reports validate the research findings that suggest farming operators experience rising heat pressure combined with intensified temperatures from June through August [23]. The Al Kansera and Sidi Al Ghandour farmers as well as those from Sfassif and Sidi Abderrazzak confirmed that their area has become hotter with more extended periods of intense heat that matches global temperature elevation patterns. Research findings demonstrate that 97.5% of participants observed substantial temperature increases in the last twenty years, which backs previous studies in North Africa about rising temperatures, reduced frost occurrences, and higher temperature fluctuations, as noted by Gosselin [24]. The data from a large sample of respondents (85%) support Moroccan frost severity reduction patterns during winter months according to the study by Khalifa [21]. The findings of over 94% of participants regarding more extended periods of sunshine, combined with decreased cloud cover, support Maghreb weather pattern research showing solar radiation increase and clearer skies connecting to more substantial warming impacts [25]. Since 1995, researchers have documented progressive climate changes that demonstrate more significant regional trends in climate shifts, thus requiring adaptive approaches to deal with escalating temperature fluctuations and modified seasonal cycles.

3.2.3. Perceptions of Thermal and Solar Changes

Data from the study match broader climate research when most farmers in four rural communes report observing more excellent sunshine and fewer overcast days between 1995 and 2015. Numerous studies demonstrate that agricultural farming communities across different areas face modified climate patterns that result in longer sunny periods during planting times as components of more significant climate change effects [26,27,28]. The observed climate pattern alterations match the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change analysis of weather shifts primarily affecting areas where farmers live. Researchers Roberts et al. [29] and Lobell et al. [30] establish that climate shifts resulting from improved sunshine and reduced clouds impact both farm production levels and farmer understanding of weather patterns. The research findings match existing literature about how climate change affects rural agricultural communities because researchers need to understand regional climate perception about worldwide climate patterns.

3.2.4. Perceptions of Changes in the Wind

The research results demonstrating farmers’ assessment of wind strength increase and agricultural damage match findings from current literature about wind patterns linked to climate change. According to some studies [9,31], elevated wind velocity levels in arid areas lead to increased evapotranspiration rates that deteriorate soil water content development. The study finds that farms in the area and other research have confirmed that farmers observed wind intensification during the last twenty years since more than 70% of respondents noted the increase. The study identifies the hot, dry southeast winds called Chergui, which have been established in Tsegaye et al. [32] research to intensify drought stress and increase soil erosion. The study area’s historical climate station records demonstrate that growing winds create lower levels of soil moisture, according to scientific data. Agricultural experts have documented harm from wind damage, including burning the grains’ leaves while breaking tree limbs. Farmers in the study area confirm that wind severely threatens agricultural sustainability because the problem intensifies during the wet season.

3.3. Causes of Climate Change

From 1995 to 2015, 58% of farmers interviewed in Sfassif, 56% in Al Kansera, 44% in Sidi Alghandour, and 41% in Sidi Abderrazzak saw climate change (precipitation, temperatures, winds, and pockets of drought) as divine will or punishment. Many respondents, 27% in Sfassif, 20% in Al Kansera, 22% in Sidi Alghandour, and 38% in Sidi Abderrazzak, believe that changes in climate conditions are natural occurrences (Figure 2). Fatalistic thinking guides rural farmers in climate change beliefs because they favor natural causes or divine intervention above human causes for environmental variations. Multiple research studies from different regions report this cultural and spiritual interpretation of climate change [33,34]. The belief system differs from scientific findings that show human activities and their environmental effects are the leading causes of climate change [35]. Research findings from Benin demonstrate similar findings to those from The Gambia because environmental understanding here is constrained by cultural backgrounds and educational levels [36]. Environmental education must become integral to development initiatives because people without sufficient knowledge face barriers when implementing adaptive strategies. Rural communities that show improved environmental awareness tend to perform sustainable practices while supporting climate change policies, according to Mearns and Norton [37]. Rural communities need improved environmental education alongside systematic ways to combat their fatalistic perspective if they want to develop better adaptive capacity and climate change resilience.

3.4. Impact of Climate Change on Study Area Agriculture

Agriculture is performed by selecting crops suitable to a certain location’s climate and using appropriate agricultural procedures. As a result, agriculture is a bioindustry that depends on the atmosphere and has specific local characteristics. The impacts of climate change on livestock and crops differ depending on rain delays/breaks, rain decreases, and the degree of insolation.

3.4.1. The Decline in Agricultural Yields

Almost all producers in Zemmour reported a decline in average crop yields, particularly for grain crops, with varying influencing factors across different communities and agricultural partners. Among the challenges farmers highlight are the extinction of or reduction in certain plant species, including boubter, maghcouch, alouaja, chick stitch, and sunflower. Conversely, crops like barley and broad beans have emerged, growing in numbers, especially during the fruiting stage. Factors contributing to these outcomes include lack of water, excessively high temperatures, inadequate pesticide and fertilizer application, wind lodging, and losses during harvest, significantly impacting both yield and overall crop production. Climate change, especially in the form of water deficits, is reported to affect 95% of farmers, particularly during critical phases such as fruit set for maize and the formation of bean panicles. High temperatures are frequently cited as detrimental to specific crops, further exacerbating farmers’ challenges. Additionally, 90% of farmers indicate that delayed precipitation leads to delayed sowing, often forcing them to replant, which disrupts the crop cycle and severely affects their agricultural productivity. This aligns with research showing that climate-induced disruptions in water availability and temperature fluctuations are significant stressors on crop yields and farming systems [30,38]. Studies in similar contexts, such as in the Sahel and North Africa, have documented the impact of shifting precipitation patterns and rising temperatures on agricultural productivity, highlighting the need for adaptive strategies to manage water resources and crop cycles [39]. The challenges Zemmour producers face reflect broader global trends, underscoring the urgency of developing climate-resilient agricultural systems and the importance of timely, targeted interventions to support farmers in adapting to these changing conditions [40].

3.4.2. The Emergence of Plant Illnesses

The study area revealed that 86% of farmers detected different crop-threatening pests and diseases affecting their harvests negatively. The main agricultural crop threats consist of Downy mildew, apical necrosis, Fusarium blight, wheat caries, Montaison, black and brown wheat rust, wheat charcoal, cereal Rhizoctonia, foot rot, wheat Helminthosporium, wheat powdery mildew, midge, Septoria, and Orobanche. Research shows Downy mildew is a significant danger to soft wheat crops since this disease has caused severe damage in 99% of farms throughout Sfassif and Sidi Alghandour properties. Black rust disease causes significant agricultural difficulties since it impacts 80% of farming operations in the Al Kansera commune. These pests and diseases infest almost every part of the study area, demonstrating the weak resistance of wheat production to pest and disease attacks, resulting in significant yield and farming productivity losses. The research shows that rising climate variability leads pests and diseases to multiply in various parts of the world where food security and the stability of the agricultural sector remain at risk [5,41,42]. Scientific evidence indicates that temperature rises, precipitation patterns, and humidity affect how easily pests and plant diseases spread, especially in wheat crops [43,44]. Effective pest and disease management approaches through IPM and disease-resistant crop selections are essential in climate change adaptation since they reduce exposure to agricultural risks [45].

3.4.3. Climate Change Effects on Cattle

Livestock experience similar effects from contemporary climate variations as agricultural products and ecosystems because heavy rainfalls, droughts, and frigid spells alongside heat extremes endanger animal health. According to reports, the research area farmers have observed that severe rainfalls generate diseases within their herds which cause excessive death, mainly during January and February. The environment becomes more suitable for bacterial and viral transmissions when temperatures reduce and air humidity increases because it helps pathogens spread between animals. Drought situations that exceed typical times shorten forage resources until livestock become weaker and more prone to infections. Soaring temperature levels negatively impact diverse livestock management areas, including development rates, reproductive abilities, and dairy production quantities. The main negative impact of climate change on livestock occurs through elevated frequency and seriousness of disease epidemics that harm animals and destabilize rural economies. The findings support extensive studies demonstrating how livestock remain susceptible to climate-generated stress, especially when severe weather disturbances destroy ecological processes supporting animal health [23,45]. Scientific studies indicate climate change intensifies zoonotic diseases while adversely affecting livestock production, emphasizing the importance of developing protective methods for animals and farming communities [46,47]. The successful management of diseases, better pasture care, and creation of livestock breeds resistant to climate change serve as critical measures for reducing the adverse effects of climate change on animal agricultural systems.

3.5. Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change

Climate change adaptation requires local communities to identify weather pattern modifications and create adaptation solutions to address these changes [33,48]. The effects of climate change have forced farmers to select several adaptation methods that expand their income streams. Rural dwellers adapt their income streams using multiple strategies, including agricultural transformations, crop selection, better agricultural innovations, entrepreneurial trading, craftsmanship, and beekeeping and fertilization methods. Research shows that 60% of the surveyed population has not established plans for addressing climate change based on data from Figure 3. Despite public acknowledgment that change is needed, a substantial barrier exists to the general acceptance of adaptation strategies. Rural communities need regular adjustments of their cultural and institutional approaches to keep pace with altering climate conditions. Research suggests that most farmers adopt adaptive measures, but numerous others hesitate because of financial and organizational limitations and inadequate information [30,49]. Climate change adaptation effectiveness depends on appropriate strategy development, establishing sustainable environments that promote extensive community involvement, and incorporating adaptation measures into everyday practice.

3.5.1. Livestock Breeding

Animal husbandry is widely recognized by the scientific community as an effective method for mitigating the impacts of climate change in the study area, particularly in the province of Khemisset. This region offers favorable agricultural conditions that support sustainable livestock farming, including an ideal climate, high-quality soil, and ample grazing areas (

Table 2. Livestock as an adaptation strategy developed by the farmers in the study area.

	Cattle Breeding	Sheep Breeding	Goat Breeding	Poultry Farming
Sfassif	30	22	0	26
AL Kansera	27	24	9	29
Sidi Al Ghandour	28	16	3	28
Sidi Abderrazzak	28	03	0	12
Total = 120	113	65	12	95

). Livestock farming is a reliable foundation for many farmers in Khemisset, enabling them to adapt to fluctuating weather patterns and economic uncertainties. By providing a stable source of food and financial security, animal husbandry safeguards against the potential losses associated with crop failure, especially in the face of unpredictable climatic conditions. Traditional adaptive farming methods and local knowledge play a crucial role in guiding livestock operations, with farmers using techniques such as rotational grazing, water conservation practices, and selective animal breeding to enhance the resilience of their livestock systems. These strategies allow farmers to navigate droughts and seasonal variations while maintaining their agricultural activities.

Furthermore, integrating livestock operations with other agricultural practices creates a more diversified and robust farming system, ensuring long-term sustainability and resilience. This approach to farming is not only economically beneficial but also environmentally advantageous, as it promotes practices that are in harmony with the natural environment [38,50]. The continued prominence of animal husbandry in Khemisset underscores its value as a key component of rural livelihoods, contributing significantly to both economic stability and the mitigation of climate-related challenges. These practices are fundamental to the sustainable development of rural areas, fostering a balance between agricultural production and environmental health [51,52].

3.5.2. Improved Cereal Variety

The study area demonstrates that local markets and agricultural institutions provide drought- and pest-resistant grain cultivars that receive widespread acceptance from farmers. The National Institute for Agricultural Research developed improved crop varieties in the 1990s for building agricultural systems that could resist environmental threats. The new crop types have gained adoption from 60% of farmers because they successfully help protect against environmental hazards. The adoption program targets common wheat first because these varieties serve as the essential element of local meals while remaining tolerant to harsh agricultural environments. Farmer acceptance of these improved varieties occurs because they deliver better agricultural output, stronger pest protection and disease resistance, and more substantial drought tolerance, guaranteeing food security for nearby communities. Farmers who use these crop varieties improve their agricultural sustainability and economic stability when implementing these resources in their overall agricultural operations. Local farmers are dedicated to contemporary farming practices by actively searching for methods that defend agricultural outputs from climate change threats [53,54]. When used together with traditional farming methods, improved crop varieties allow farmers to adapt their agriculture to changing climate conditions, sustaining their farming systems while improving their livelihoods. The development of climate-resilient crop varieties receives backing from broader research focused on supporting food security and sustainable agriculture within climate-change-vulnerable regions [30,40].

3.5.3. Weed Management

Surveys showed that farmers mainly selected the combined weed control technique as their primary cultivation approach because it was used by 65% of respondents. Two principal techniques make up this system: mechanical and chemical weeding. Farmers execute manual weeding operations during the initial crop phase between the first two months to safeguard developing plants. The approach enables farmers to manage weeds in the early season without hurting their growing plants. The secondary cultivation method farmers use includes chemical weeding, requiring them to apply pesticides to the fields to eliminate vegetation. Contact herbicides have become a preferred selection for farmers because they protect remaining intercropping residues, which serve as soil evaporators and help prevent soil loss through erosion. Using mechanical weed control along with herbicides creates a complete weed management system that enhances yield production, promotes soil protection, and sustains the long-term stability of farming methods [55,56]. The approach demonstrates how combined pest and weed control methods preserve agricultural systems that maintain sustainability despite changing climate conditions.

3.5.4. Controlling Illnesses and Pests

This study revealed that 70% of respondents reported crop losses because of different plant diseases, indicating the potential impact of plant diseases on agricultural productivity revealed in the survey. Wheat is also infected with wheat caries, verticilliosis, Septoria, wheat powdery mildew, bacteriosis, and Fusarium blight in the region, and the area is considered acceptable for these causes for olive trees and cereal crops. Pests cause additional damage that increases the detrimental effects of these diseases on crop yields. Temperature and humidity are commonly acknowledged key aspects that maximize diseases and pest occurrences and control the population sizes of these pathogens and pests. Evolving climate conditions, such as variations in temperature and precipitation patterns, are expected to induce novel disease outbreaks, adding to pest challenges and worsening old crop damage. Indirectly, climate-induced changes can impact crops in varying degrees and affect agricultural productivity, including that of animals and food security more generally [57,58]. With ongoing climate variability, we require a better understanding of this synecology between climate, pests, and disease epidemics to develop more effective agriculture approaches to minimizing losses and enhancing climate change resilience [59].

3.5.5. Rotating Crops

The local farmers noticed a change in their agricultural practices because market forces led them to replace broad beans with lentils, wheat, and barley crops. The literature shows that economic market forces like those in Mediterranean and semi-arid areas prompted farmers to switch crop selections [60,61]. Environmental conditions allowed this shift in farming practices even though the established wheat–lentil–fallow and broad bean–barley–fallow crop rotation systems have mostly continued. Crop rotation is fundamental to preserving soil health and controlling pests while maximizing land productivity because Kassam et al. [62] and Hamdi et al. [63] confirm this approach. Legume-based rotations prove essential in studies because they promote nitrogen fixation, which helps eliminate synthetic fertilizer needed for healthy soil [64]. Market pressures affect farming decisions, but farmers use rotational systems to manage the economy while protecting ecological elements, leading to sustainable agricultural methods [65].

3.5.6. Sowing Date

The rainy period in Morocco runs from November to March, yet December contains nearly fifty percent of the yearly rainfall, according to Ouatiki et al. [66]. The opportunities to plant rainfed crops depend heavily on sowing timing since farmers experience reduced yield when planting operations occur after heavy December rainfall starts [63]. The practice of delayed planting by farmers became obsolete after climate variability forced a transition to early sowing, which should occur between October and November after significant rainfall events [67]. Early planting provides better root development before peak rainfall, improving water intake and reducing vulnerability to water stress, according to Byrareddy et al. [68]. This adaptation strategy has become vital because climate change changes rainfall distribution and demands that farmers optimize their planting dates to maintain farming output [69]. Suitable planting time adjustments are a vital farming practice that secures food stability in semi-arid regions because of changing rainfall patterns [65].

3.5.7. Conversion of Grains to Olive

The research area was selected because of its high agricultural value and susceptibility to climate change. Olive cultivation is a top-priority sector that needs adaptation measures because climate variability increases its challenges [23]. Studies have proven that olive trees possess adaptive capabilities toward drought conditions and heat increase, making them suitable replacements for cereal crops across semi-arid regions [70,71]. The Green Morocco Plan launched its climate adaptation sub-project in 2011 through the conversion of 2000 hectares of cereal fields to olive groves within the rural areas of Sfassif and Al Kansera. The initiative aims to reach 8000 hectares through further development. Studies in Mediterranean regions prove successful, with promising results, including better soil protection, economic steadiness, and carbon storage [72]. The FAO [69] establishes that stakeholder participation and proper governmental policies are crucial to achieving favorable outcomes for agricultural transformations. The Khemisset Provincial Agricultural Directorate controls recipient choices to match more expansive plans for sustainable land management and climate-adaptive agriculture.

4. Conclusions

This study demonstrated that Khemisset area farmers know about the primary climatic threats impacting rainfed agricultural operations. Farmers’ observation reveals primary climate triggers that lead to variable rainfall levels while the environment experiences growing heat and ongoing drought. These circumstances result in severe impacts on the production of crops and herds. Farmers throughout different seasons have noticed the need to change their planting times, facing growing water shortages and more widespread pest and disease outbreaks resulting from changing environmental conditions. Food security and their livelihoods are in danger because of these difficulties, so climate adaptation stands as an imperative need. Although farmers successfully identify climate change as a phenomenon, their operations encounter many obstacles to implementing proper adaptation techniques because they lack financial means, technical skills, and insufficient institutional backing. The analysis provides valuable information but contains specific constraints. The research utilizes self-reported data while its location in Khemisset creates specific geographical boundaries that restrict the generalization of results. The research should expand its geographical coverage and combine different research methods, including remote sensing and climate modeling, to better understand North African farming conditions in the face of climate change. Farmers who wish to improve their resilience should select crops that endure droughts and deploy efficient irrigation systems and methods to protect their soil from degradation. The long-term adaptation depends heavily on four essential components: financial backing, institutional help, climate information access, and active farmer education initiatives. The national agricultural policies must incorporate climate resilience components to establish successful collaboration between researchers, farmers, and policymakers to sustain Moroccan farming practices.