The Ministry of Agriculture is launching an ambitious program aimed at replacing the gas used in agricultural irrigation with solar energy-based solutions. This initiative, which spans 51,000 hectares of land, offers financial support to farmers to encourage them to adopt this renewable energy. The goal is to reduce production costs while accelerating the transition to sustainable agricultural practices.
This program stems from a partnership signed in February between the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as part of a national plan to promote solar irrigation. Regional directors of Agriculture have been tasked with identifying potential beneficiaries. Farmers must meet certain conditions, such as currently using domestic gas for localized irrigation and having a water consumption meter.
The planned assistance amounts to 3,000 dirhams per hectare, capped at 30,000 dirhams per farmer. Monitoring committees will ensure the effective implementation of the program, which comes in the context of rising gas prices. The shift to solar energy, supported by Morocco’s abundant sunshine, could sustainably transform the agricultural sector.
Industry professionals believe that this initiative will help farmers reduce their fixed costs, making agricultural products more competitive in the market. In the long term, the energy transition should not only lighten the burdens on farms but also help stabilize or even decrease food prices. This approach is part of the national energy strategy for 2030 and 2050, in alignment with the Kingdom’s sustainable development goals.