The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved US$250 million for the Morocco Transforming Agri-food Systems Program, aimed at increasing the Moroccan agri-food system's resilience to climate change and strengthening food safety and quality.
The agri-food sector is vital for Morocco's economic growth, contributing 16 percent of gross domestic product and 19 percent of total exports in 2023. It plays a key role in employment, providing 67 percent of rural jobs and 36 percent of all jobs, with 30 percent in primary agriculture and 6 percent in agri-processing.
However, the sector faces significant challenges due to consecutive years of drought, leading to substantial production declines, especially in the rainfed grain sector, highlighting its vulnerability to climate risks. Given recent economic disruptions and current climate trends, the transformation of Morocco's food system is increasingly critical for stable and sustainable development, including through increased and more efficient production while minimizing negative externalities on natural resources and controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
The new Program is designed to improve climate resilience and risk management in rainfed agriculture by promoting climate-smart practices and improving water and soil management through conservation agriculture. The Program will help improve livelihoods and increase job quality by stabilizing yields and mitigating climate risks, including expanding no-till agriculture and increasing the area covered by reformed agricultural insurance systems.