Morocco’s Agriculture Policies through Modern History

Morocco, this North African country has been subject to significant drought due to climate change, yet it positions itself as a major agricultural country in the region

20th century Morocco

The Agriculture sector sustaining a predominately rural country

Agriculture has undeniable economic and social importance in Morocco, with a share of around 38% in total employment at the national level and around 74% in rural areas.(Moroccan Government source. The urban population has grown significantly in Morocco since 1950, it increased from 10% in 1926 to 55% in 1998 (HCP). This figure has reached 60% in 2014 beforejumping to 65,2 % in 2024.(OCDE report) This means that the population of Morocco for more than half a century was predominately a rural one.

20th century morocco

The launch of Agricultural policies post independence

After gaining independence, Morocco’s primary political objective was to achieve self-sufficiency in the production of essential crops like wheat and sugar. The state has intervened in the sector directly through investements and subsidies. (HCP) In 1965, Agriculture was contributing 24% to the national GDP (World Bank). Between 1965 and 1985, agriculture received an average of 28.6% of total public investments that were destinated to the construction of dams and development of irrigation perimeters. These investment amonted to 2.27 billion dirhams by 1989. (source)

Youssef Ben Tachfin Dam, Massa, Morocco

The events of June 20, 1981, in Casablanca, known as the “Komira” (Bread) uprising, were triggered by rising prices and the government’s inability to address the social crisis. In response, the people protested in the streets. (source)

The 80s crisis

The contribution of the Agricultral sector the economy halved between 1979 and 1981

In 1980 and 1981, the rainfall deficit was 40%, as a result the reservoirs of the many dams in Morocco experienced record low levels, with the filling coefficient of most of them around 20%. (Source) In urban areas, the prices of fruits and vegetables rose significantly.
The cereal harvest fell to 20 million quintals, compared to 35 million in a normal year. The cereal deficit compared to consumption reached 30 million quintals, leading to a doubling of imports compared to a typical year. The country’s debt increased significantly to finance all these imports, and livestock decreased by 40%.(Source)

Despite the human and financial resources invested, the development projects and programs implemented have not always achieved the expected objectives, whether in terms of food security or in improving the living and production conditions of farmers.(HCP) The accompanying conditions to the projects and their social impacts presented some limitations. In fact, the rural development plan for 1999-2003 revealed a disparity between rural and urban areas. Nearly two-thirds of the poor population live in rural regions. Over 54% of rural communities suffer from isolation, and the illiteracy rate was at 67% among these populations, compounded by a low school enrollment rate of only 46% for children, with just 23% for girls. Furthermore, 93% of the rural population lacked access to healthcare, 87% were without electricity, and 63% did not have access to clean drinking water. These figures indicated that agricultural development efforts have been insufficiently coordinated to meet the intended objectives for improving rural livelihoods.(HCP)

morocco’s 2008-2020 vision

The Green Morocco Plan

One of the major projects launched in 2008 by the country is the Green Morocco Plan (PMV), this initiative has as its guidelines “economic efficiency, social equity and the preservation of natural resources” according to the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture. The objective of the Green Morocco Plan was to make Morocco an agricultural exporting power.
According to the Moroccan Agriculture Agency for Development (ADA) After ten years of implementing the Green Morocco Plan, Between 2008 and 2018, the agricultural sector attracted investments totaling 104 billion MAD, with 40% from public sources and 60% from private investors. State incentives via the Agricultural Development Fund rose by 112%, generating 2.85 MAD for every Dirham of support. The agricultural GDP grew at an annual rate of 5.25%, compared to 3.8% for other sectors. Agricultural exports surged by 117%, increasing from 15 billion MAD to 33 billion MAD. The Green Morocco Plan created 342,000 jobs and raised the average working days per worker from 110 to 140.
In solidarity-based agriculture, 989 projects benefited 730,000 people, leading to the planting of 438,455 hectares, the establishment of 450 value-added units, the development of 83,960 hectares of hydro-agricultural areas, the improvement of 39,185 hectares of pastoral land, and the opening of 545 kilometers of rural roads. The enactment of Law No. 25-06 on geographical indications also boosted local products, recognizing 62 labeled items, upgrading 720 cooperatives (benefiting 20,000 people), constructing and equipping 484 value-added units, and listing 3,000 products in major retail stores, generating nearly 80 million MAD in turnover.

2020-2030 Vision: Generation Green

A royal vision focused on generating a rural middle-class

Generation Green: A Royal vision in making

The King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, has outlined clear and precise objectives for the country’s agricultural vision for this decade. In his 2018 royal speech, he emphasized that the agricultural sector can serve as a more effective source of employment and a powerful tool for improving living conditions and sustaining life in rural areas. The focus is on creating new income-generating activities and jobs, particularly for young people in these regions.The overarching goal of this policy is to foster the emergence of a middle-class agricultural sector. To achieve this, the government has been directed to develop innovative mechanisms that encourage farmers to join cooperatives and productive agricultural groups, while also facilitating easier access to land for investors. Special attention is being given to small farmers, particularly regarding the marketing of their products, as part of broader efforts to elevate the overall socio-economic conditions.

Hiba Sabbar, Pharm.D

Writer & Social impact consultant

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