The World Bank approved USD 250 million for Morocco’s Transforming Agri-food Systems Program. The new Program will promote climate-smart farming techniques, strengthen water and soil conservation, and expand no-till agriculture, according to a statement released on Thursday.
Morocco’s agri-food sector drives the country’s economy, contributing 16% to GDP and 19% of total exports in 2023. It employs 67% of rural workers and 36% of the total workforce, with 30% in primary agriculture and 6% in agri-processing.
However, consecutive droughts have severely impacted production, especially in rainfed grain farming, exposing the sector’s vulnerability to climate risks.
Improved agricultural insurance systems will help stabilize yields and shield farmers from climate risks.
The program also focuses on food quality and safety. It aims to expand organic farming to 25,000 hectares, improve olive oil quality control, and enhance sanitary standards in 1,200 food outlets to reduce health risks in food distribution.
Farmers will gain tools to market high-quality food more effectively, leading to higher incomes and better market access. In addition, it aims to curb food loss and waste, elevate public and private sector capabilities, and promote nutrition security.
Approximately 1.36 million people will benefit from the program, including 120,000 farmers and over a million consumers.
“By supporting an ambitious scale-up of climate-smart agricultural practices, this innovative Program will help Morocco secure green jobs in rural areas and enhance national food security,” the World Bank’s Country Director for the Maghreb and Malta, Ahmadou Moustapha Ndiaye, said in the statement.
A USD 5 million grant from the Livable Planet Fund (LPF) complements the World Bank’s investment. The grant will help small-holder farmers transition to sustainable practices through decoupled incentives, aligning with Morocco’s Generation Green 2020-2030 initiative to boost rural development and resilience.
This program sets a strong precedent for integrating climate resilience into agriculture while fostering economic growth and food security in Morocco.