## 1 Introduction  
Climate change is an important challenge for the world in general and Africa in particular. Globally, warming of about 1.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C and a reduction in rainfall are already being recorded, with daunting consequences on agriculture [1]. The COP26 has set a target of stabilizing temperature increase at 1.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C while reducing deforestation and methane by 2030. The impacts of climate change are negatively affecting the agricultural sector and, in turn, food security. Each degree of warming reduces wheat yields by 6%, rice and soybean yield by 3%, and maize yields by 7% [2]. Although no country is spared the effects of climate change, Africa is among the most vulnerable continents. In West Africa today, rainfall generally decreases from the south to the north [3; 4; 5] while in North Africa, precipitation is characterized by a rainy winter season and dry summer conditions. The rainy season begins in October and lasts until April, with the months of December and February are the wettest [6; 7]. Additionally, the entire region is marked by high inter-annual precipitation fluctuation. The effects of climate change are becoming more visible in Morocco, which has been designated as a very vulnerable country [8]. In Morocco, drought, rising average temperatures, heat waves, and shifting rainfall patterns are affecting more locations. \"Since the 1960s, an increase of 1 \({}^{\circ}\)C has been observed throughout Morocco and projections show an increase of 1 to 1.5 \({}^{\circ}\)C by 2050 (3 rd NC Morocco 2016) [9].\"  
It has been projected that between 2018-2050, there will be a downward trend of annual rainfall for various Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 (17.29%) and RCP 2.6 and RCP 8.5 (12.50% and 21.33%, respectively) [10]. The annual mean temperature was found to increase by 0.72 \({}^{\circ}\)C, 0.57 \({}^{\circ}\)C, and 0.69 \({}^{\circ}\)C under the RCP 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5, respectively [11]. In addition, a relative Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI index) computed to evaluate the impacts of climate change on drought occurrence in Morocco and based on the projected precipitation (2006-2100) from five high-resolution CORDEX regional climate simulations, under two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) shows a decrease in precipitation towards the future of up to \(-65\%\) compared to the historical period. In terms of drought events, the future projections indicate a strong increase in the frequency of SPI events, considered as severe drought conditions [12]. In addition, the mean annual rainfall varies from 500 to 2000 mm in the northwest of the country (subject to Atlantic and Mediterranean influences), from 200 to 1000 mm in the west and center (subject to Atlantic influences), from 100 to 200 mm in the eastern part of the country, and to less than 100 mm in the south [13]. The consequences of this decline in rainfall in Morocco are northward shift in arid conditions, higher temperatures, reduced growing season precipitation, and increased crop vulnerability [14]. In Morocco, crop yields are being driven by the increased frequency of extreme weather events and unpredictable weather patterns. Extreme droughts were recorded during the seasons 1986-1987, 1991-1992, 1994-1995, and 1998-2000, and floods in 2014, 2011, and 2009, inter alia [15]. Due to the negative future climate estimates for Morocco (1.3 \({}^{\circ}\)C increase in yearly mean temperature and 11% drop in the annual average rainfall by 2050), the country will be facing economic and food security issues, as agriculture is highly climate dependent in Morocco [15]. For example, summer droughts affect the Gharb in Morocco, but their intensity and length vary from one year to another, and between the Atlantic Gharb and the High Gharb. When the summer droughts exceed 6 consecutive months, a major constraint for crops in the Gharb is easily triggered.