The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has stated that climate change has made the agricultural sector in Morocco “more vulnerable to risks” after previously being a cornerstone of the national economy, contributing 16% to the Gross Domestic Product and employing 67% of the rural workforce.
In a report on the subject, the UN agency confirmed that “these risks are even higher for rainfed agricultural fields,” emphasizing the “need to support the industrial and food production sector to enhance adaptability, improve food safety, and support small producers.”
It also noted that “establishing a more stable, competitive, and sustainable agricultural food system that better protects farmers and consumers relies on strategic investments focused on adapting to climate change and ensuring food safety and market access.”
The FAO highlighted its partnership with Morocco in this context, explaining that the “Agricultural Food Transformation Program in Morocco (announced at the end of 2024), funded by the World Bank with an investment of $250 million, aims to address key challenges in rainfed agriculture, climate risk management, and food safety.”
The FAO expressed its commitment to the anticipated “positives” of this program, stating that it supports small landholders of rainfed wheat and barley and also contributes to the adoption of climate-smart practices, including conservation agriculture and improved water and soil management, as well as crop diversification between legumes and fodder.
These measures are expected to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve water use, and increase productivity, with approximately 120,000 farmers expected to benefit, including 18,000 young individuals and 6,000 women.
According to the FAO, its investment center “played a key role in the pre-planning phase of this support, providing technical expertise in food safety, value chain analysis, and facilitating alliances and producer unions.”
In advocating for Morocco’s expected access to $250 million from the World Bank, the FAO asserted that this amount “would enhance and expand productive alliances in Morocco that link small producers with buyers and financial institutions.”
A statement from Mohamed Mansouri, Director of the aforementioned investment center, indicated that “this program represents a significant investment in the future of the agricultural food sector in Morocco, integrating climate-smart practices and improving food safety and quality, helping Morocco to develop a more resilient and competitive agricultural food system.”
It is worth noting that the Board of Executive Directors of the World Bank approved in December of last year the provision of $250 million for the Agricultural Food Systems Transformation Program in the Kingdom.
