Agriculture & Fisheries
From The Report: Morocco 2020
View in Online Reader

The agriculture sector has grown exponentially since the implementation of the Green Morocco Plan in 2008. The plan has achieved most of its goals and increased the value of the sector through the development of traditional crops, better marketing, improved supply chains and subsidised drip-irrigation equipment. However, the slow establishment of adequate refrigeration space and transport networks to carry produce to the market in a timely manner has led to instances of spoilage. Mechanisation levels have improved, but many small-scale farming operations continue to face obstacles to finance their equipment needs. Mitigating the effects of climate change will also determine the future of agriculture in Morocco. Although government measures have helped align water-saving measures with sector practices, water management will be increasingly critical as higher temperatures become the norm and population growth puts further pressure on hydraulic resources. This chapter contains an interview Abdelhamid Aboulkassim, President, Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Organic Agriculture.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Bearing fruit: The sector development plan makes concrete gains, but challenges to reaching full potential persist
OBG
plus

Agriculture remains a critical sector for the Moroccan economy. Given its major role in providing employment and disposable income, agriculture can impact the country’s annual GDP growth rates in a way that few other sectors can. The past decade has seen the implementation of the Green Morocco Plan (Plan Maroc Vert, PMV), which was launched in 2008 to increase agricultural output, make the sector more competitive and increase its resilience to the threats posed by climate change. The PMV,…

Analysis

Expanding scope: Investing in aquaculture to leverage untapped resources
OBG
plus

Morocco has access to a significant volume of maritime resources. In 2019 the kingdom’s maritime fisheries sector had an output of close to 1.46m tonnes and was valued at nearly Dh11.7bn ($1.2bn), according to the Department of Maritime Fisheries (Département de la Pêche Maritime, DPM). Much of its development strategy has been based on the Halieutis Plan, which was launched in 2009 with the goal of improving performance, enhancing food security and maintaining the long-term sustainability…

Interview

From the source: Abdelhamid Aboulkassim, President, Moroccan Interprofessional Federation of Organic Agriculture, on unlocking the economic potential of organic farming
OBG
plus

Interview: Abdelhamid Aboulkassim What role does organic farming play in the development of Morocco’s agriculture sector? ABDELHAMID ABOULKASSIM: Organic farming represents a step forward for agriculture in Morocco. However, with around 11,000 ha of cultivated area and 200,000 ha of untended area – including the cultivation of organic argan and aromatic plants, which make up more than 140,000 ha and 70,000 ha, respectively – it is still an underdeveloped segment. Meanwhile, exports are made…

Overview

Making every drop count: Governments and the private sector tackle water scarcity through policy reform, technology adoption and infrastructure investment
OBG
plus

Global food demand is expected to increase by anywhere between 59% and 98% by 2050. However, global freshwater resources are already overstretched due to climate change and soaring population growth, and it is unclear how agriculture will keep up with these challenges. In recent years climate-induced water shortages in urban areas have brought water scarcity to the forefront of public debate, as major cities such as São Paulo, Cape Town and Barcelona have found themselves on the brink of major water crises. In response, policymakers have started to scrutinise and reform existing agricultural practices, which on average consume 70% of…

Overview

Making every drop count: Governments and the private sector tackle water scarcity through policy reform, technology adoption and infrastructure investment
OBG
plus

Global food demand is expected to increase by anywhere between 59% and 98% by 2050. However, global freshwater resources are already overstretched due to climate change and soaring population growth, and it is unclear how agriculture will keep up with these challenges. In recent years climate-induced water shortages in urban areas have brought water scarcity to the forefront of public debate, as major cities such as São Paulo, Cape Town and Barcelona have found themselves on the brink of major water crises. In response, policymakers have started to scrutinise and reform existing agricultural practices, which on average consume 70% of…