Morocco Growth Slows

Morocco’s economy grew by 1.6% in 2016, down from the previous year’s 4.5% because of a poorly performing agricultural sector, Economy and Finance Minister Mohamed Boussaid said, AFP reported. He attributed this “deceleration” mainly to a “very important fall” in the production of cereal crops. Boussaid said “2006 was the driest year in the past three decades,” but added that “the 70% drop in cereal production was partly offset by a very good performance of other agricultural products.” Agriculture remains the main contributor to the North African country’s gross domestic product, ahead of both tourism and manufacturing.