Four years after it was launched, the agricultural strategy, Generation Green (GG) 2020-2030, shows progress deemed “significant”, particularly in agricultural production and the creation of innovative projects for farmers and young entrepreneurs. According to data provided exclusively by the Department of Agriculture to the newspaper “Le Matin”, in the first foundation of this roadmap, which concerns the prioritization of the human element, several measures have been undertaken. Concretely, during the four years of implementation of the strategy, efforts toinvestment were pursued with a view to increasing the income of farmers. Thus, between 2021 and 2023, no less than 58 billion dirhams have been mobilized, including 55% public investments and 45% carried by the private sector.
THE grants granted under the Agricultural Development Fund (FDA) amounted to 13.7 billion dirhams. On the construction site of theagricultural insurancethe services ofAhmed El Bouari indicate that nearly 1.2 million hectares are currently insured with the objective of increasing the agricultural area assured to 2.5 million hectares. GG also planned the generalization of the protection sociale to farmers and employees in this sector in accordance with the Royal Guidelines. In this context, the Department of Agriculture claims to have identified and transmitted to the CNSS the files of 1.436 million farmers, distributed according to their medical coverage plan.
Likewise, assures Agriculture, significant efforts have been made to improve the working conditions of employees and the reduction of the gap between agricultural minimum wage and that in force in other economic sectors. Thus, in accordance with the social agreement signed at the beginning of May 2022 with the sector’s trade union organizations, an increase in Guaranteed minimum agricultural wage (SMAG) of 10% was recorded from September 2022 in addition to another increase of 5% in September 2023. Thus, the TASTE improved by 15% between 2020 and 2023, going from 1,994.2 to 2,303.08 dirhams per month.
Development of collective lands: 620,646 ha mobilized
One of GG’s strategic pillars is the emergence of a new generation of young entrepreneurs including 180,000 new young operators and the creation of 170,000 jobs in agricultural servicespara-agricultural and transformation through several levers including the valorization of collective agricultural landin coordination with the Department of the Interior. The report provided on this subject by the ministry thus reports nearly 620,646 ha of collective land which were mobilized at the end of September 2024, of which 175,867 ha were allocated (48% in bour and 52% in irrigated) for the benefit of 50,252 beneficiaries of collective land. Strengthening training also features prominently in the agricultural strategy. Thus, an entire Roadmap dedicated to this project has been concocted by Agriculture. This provides for the training of 10,000 graduates in higher education and 140,000 in vocational training and apprenticeship by 2030. Value today: over the period 2020-2023, the number of graduates in education higher agricultural education stands at 2,494 compared to 36,209 for agricultural professional training. Likewise, 3 professional agricultural training establishments were created, including 2 in public-private partnership. These are the Casablanca Bakery and Pastry Training Institute (IFBP) and the Livestock Training Institute (IFME), in Bellouta (Ouezzane province).
4,628 new generation cooperatives created by the end of 2024
The agricultural strategy has planned among its axes the development of a new generation of agricultural organizations through the creation of cooperatives and new organizational models with a view to achieving a grouping rate of 25% of farmers. In this context, an agreement relating to the national program for the creation of new generation agricultural cooperatives was signed between the Ministries of Agriculture and Tourism. Its objective, to establish and implement 18,000 agricultural and entrepreneurial cooperatives new generation. Thus, by the end of 2024, some 4,628 agricultural cooperatives have been created for the benefit of rural farmers, women and young people. Regarding the creation of a new generation of aggregation projects, Agriculture reports the approval of 105 new generation agricultural aggregation projects. Likewise, 89 projects received the aggregation certificate for the benefit of 58,500 farmers aggregated over an area of around 185,000 ha in addition to 151,000 head of livestock aggregated.
563 agricultural advisors mobilized by the end of 2024
In supporting the farmersthe Department of Agriculture indicates that new mechanisms have been put on track through the strengthening of agricultural advice and the launch of agricultural projects.solidarity agriculture new generation on nearly 350,000 to 400,000 ha in vulnerable areas. Remember that in terms of agricultural advice, the Generation Green strategy provides for the strengthening of agricultural advice, notably through the mobilization of nearly 5,000 agricultural advisors by 2030 (including 25% public advisors and 75% private advisors). . By the end of 2024, more than 384 public agricultural advisors and 179 private advisors have been mobilized for the benefit of 1.3 million beneficiaries of advisory interventions.
Solidarity agriculture: 68 new generation projects validated
In thesolidarity agriculturethe main achievements at the end of 2024 consist of the validation of 68 new generation projects, the planting of a cumulative additional area of 68,551 ha and the installation of 36 recovery units. Added to this is the sustainability of 279 projects of the second pillar of the Green Morocco Planfor the benefit of 175,000 beneficiaries. Furthermore, the agricultural roadmap aims, through its second foundation relating to the sustainability of the agricultural sector, to continue the dynamic of agricultural development through the development and consolidation of agricultural sectors through more targeted intervention on the agricultural upstream and a reallocation of efforts downstream. In this context, 20 new generation program contracts for the development of agricultural sectors were signed in May 2023, in addition to a new program contract relating to the development of the barb and Arabian-barb equine breeds and support for the “Tbourida” sector.
Wholesale markets: the Rabat, Dakhla and Tetouan platforms operational this year
Improving marketing and distribution conditions and the quality of agricultural products was included among the main axes of GG. The objective being to maximize the value captured by farmers and improve the quality of products sold to consumers through the modernization of 12 regional fruit and vegetable wholesale markets (MDG), the approval of abattoirs and the rehabilitation of souks. Remember that in 2020, the ministries of Agriculture, Finance, Interior and Commerce signed a framework agreement which defines the commitments of the various stakeholders in order to create or modernize new generation wholesale markets. Value today, 11 MDG projects are under construction or studies, three of which will be operational in 2025. These are those of Rabat, Dakhla and Tetouan.
In the modernization of weekly souks and livestock markets, the achievements at the end of 2024 show the completion of 4 livestock markets: Sidi Bennour, Laâyoune, Azrou and Boujdour in addition to 3 other projects whose development work is in progress: the livestock market cattle of Missour, the Souk of downtown Dakhla and weekly Souk of Foum El Ouad in Laâyoune. The services of El Bouari also ensure that 13 weekly Souks projects are in the pipeline and whose studies have been carried out or in progress. These are 3 local souks in Dakhla, the weekly Souk of El Attaouia in Kelâa des Sraghna, the weekly Souk of Hed Dra in Essaouira, 4 weekly Souks in the Oriental region, a livestock market of Tiznit, a livestock market in Dakhla, another in Jorf Al Melha and a livestock market in Aguelmous. Without forgetting 2 other weekly Souks projects whose agreements have already been signed. These are the weekly Souks of Ouezzane and Tiznit. Added to this are 4 weekly Souks projects whose agreements are currently being signed. The first will be located in M’ssaâda in Sidi Slimane, the second in Sidi Kacem, the third is in Oulad Fraj (El Jadida) and the fourth in Moghress, also in the province of El Jadida.
Localized irrigation: an additional area of 250,000 ha covered between 2021 and 2023
The Agricultural Roadmap provides for the promotion of quality, innovation and Green Tech in order to adapt theMoroccan agriculture agricultural and technological trends as well as new consumption patterns. In this context, GG plans to approve 120 slaughterhouses created or modernized by 2030. To date, 17 slaughterhouses have been approved. Likewise, the health control of agricultural products has been duplicated in addition to the identification of 100% of Moroccan livestock. Thus, assures the ministry, 94% of the livestock have been identified in 2023 according to the national identification and traceability system. GG also planned to increase investments in Research & Development by 1.5 to 2 times and register 30 to 50 new varieties of seeds in the Official Catalog by 2030. By the end of 2023, some 20 varieties have been registered in this official catalog.
In the process of developing sustainable agriculture that is resilient to climate change, GG aims to increase water efficiency through the promotion of soil conservation techniques. On this project, Agriculture reports the development of localized irrigation over an additional area of 250,000 ha between 2021 and 2023, or 77% of the 2030 objective. This has made it possible to valorize nearly 550 million m³ of irrigation water between 2021 and 2024, in addition to the 1.4 billion m³ of water saved as part of the National Irrigation Water Saving Program (PNEEI) during the Green Morocco Plan. The ministry also reveals the launch of hydro-agricultural development work on 69,900 ha as part of the program for the extension of irrigation downstream of the dams, including 18,100 ha completed and the continuation of work on 51,800 ha others. On small and medium hydraulics, the department of El Bouari reports the completion of the development of 54,450 ha at the end of 2023, through the rehabilitation of nearly 1,090 km of seguias and 35 km of Khettaras with an objective of 20,000 ha in 2030. Regarding public-private partnership (PPP) projects, Agriculture highlights the continued development of PPP projects innovative solutions for the construction and/or operation of irrigation projects and the development of agricultural water supply through desalination of sea water. Other achievements include the equipping of 14,750 ha with rainwater collection works and the development of solar pumping on 116,903 ha by the end of 2023, or 39% of the GG objective by 2030). Without forgetting the development of 574,661 ha of rangeland by the end of October 2024, or 52% of the 2030 objective, and the promotion of soil conservation practices, notably direct sowing on nearly 118,077 ha. The objective expected by GG by 2030 is 1 million ha. Likewise, in accordance with the Royal Guidelines, the Executive affirms having taken other structural measures for the mobilization and valorization of water through the construction of new dams, the interconnection of the Sebou, Bouregreg and Oum Er-Rabia, the extension and construction of seawater desalination stations and the launch of the purified wastewater recycling program.
