Morocco is set to launch an unprecedented agricultural program starting next November, lasting six and a half years (2025-2031), designed to enhance social and economic inclusion in rural areas. With a total budget of €216.3 million, it will be co-financed by the state and the African Development Bank (AfDB), which is contributing €100 million, nearly half of the total investment.
Led by the Ministry of Agriculture through the Agricultural Development Agency (ADA), this project aims to achieve multiple objectives: improving the incomes of small farmers, creating jobs in rural areas, enhancing resilience to climate change, and providing real prospects for youth and women.
Seven strategic regions have been selected: Draa-Tafilalet, Béni Mellal-Khénifra, Fès-Meknès, Marrakech-Safi, Oriental, Souss-Massa, and Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima. These areas, rich in agricultural potential yet faced with significant social vulnerabilities, will be the focus of targeted actions: support for rural entrepreneurship, improved access to competitive markets, dissemination of sustainable agricultural practices, and strengthening of technical capacities.
The approach aims to be inclusive. By prioritizing women and youth, the program aspires to reduce gender inequalities and curb rural exodus, making social and economic life more appealing outside major cities. Through access to training, financing, and basic infrastructure, these groups will have the opportunity to find new prospects in agriculture and related services.
The environmental dimension is also central. The planned measures include water-efficient irrigation, agroecology, and the preservation of soils and biodiversity. The goal is to adapt small-scale agriculture to climate challenges while laying the foundations for more sustainable rural development.
In parallel, the program includes institutional support to strengthen the capacity of public and private actors to implement these projects. This is a vital component to ensure the sustainability of achievements and to drive lasting transformation in the targeted regions.
With this plan, the government seeks to combine social inclusion, agricultural growth, and ecological transition, placing youth and rural women at the heart of a model that aims to be supportive and future-oriented.