HIBAPRESS
The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved a grant of four million dollars from the Living Planet Fund to provide additional financing for the transformation program in agricultural food systems in Morocco.
The international financial institution clarified in a statement that this funding aims to strengthen the ability of Morocco's agricultural food system to withstand climate change while improving the level of food safety and quality.
This grant complements the initial funding for the program, which amounts to $250 million, and was approved in December 2024.
Based on the central focus on expanding climate-smart practices, this additional funding aims to remove the constraints faced by small and medium-sized farmers at the demand level, in order to accelerate the transformation of the rain-fed cereal sector in Morocco towards resource-conserving agriculture.
In this context, the (Bretton Woods) institution pointed out that the program targets about 1,200 farmers on an area of 20,000 hectares, where support will be provided through digital electronic coupons to reduce production costs through mechanization services, such as direct planting, and facilitate access to seeds resistant to climate change.
According to the statement, the project will also help grain and legume producers, including women and youth, to enhance financial inclusion and access to better-yielding markets through smart crop aggregation.
On the other hand, within the framework of this funding, the project management, tracking and evaluation mechanisms will be strengthened to monitor the rates of adoption of these practices, and measure the increase in yields and farmers' incomes, in addition to the quantitative assessment of the benefits of mitigating the effects of climate change, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The World Bank will also support the design and dissemination of the electronic coupon system and the assessment of its impact.
The institution pointed out that the agricultural food sector plays a vital role in the Moroccan economy and in creating job opportunities in rural areas, noting that consecutive years of drought have shown the fragility of rain-fed cereal production and the need to shift towards more resilient production systems.
The World Bank noted that the additional funding supports this path by expanding the adoption of resource-conserving agriculture to ensure yield stability and improve soil and water management.
The program also dedicates the "World Bank Group One" approach, through cooperation between the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation, and contributes to the initiative to transform the agricultural sector by enhancing job opportunities in the value chains of cereals and legumes and promoting food and nutritional security.
In this regard, the statement quoted the Regional Director for the Maghreb and Malta Department at the World Bank, Ahmadu Mustafa Ndiaye, as saying that "by promoting the transition to climate-friendly practices and testing innovative support based on digital technology for small farmers, this additional funding will contribute to supporting Morocco in creating green job opportunities in rural areas and strengthening food security at the national level."
He added that this project "strengthens the dynamics of the program that was approved last year, as well as deepening our partnership within the framework of the World Bank Group's one approach."
In addition to measures aimed at improving access to markets and strengthening the capacities of actors in the public and private sectors, the program, according to the World Bank, aims to help farmers produce and market high-quality and safe food, while increasing their income and ensuring continuity and consistency with the initial funding.
