World Bank approves $250 million to finance resilience of Morocco’s agri-food systems

The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a program worth $250 to help Morocco increase the resilience of its agri-food system to climate change and strengthen food safety and quality.

“Overall, the Program is expected to benefit 1.36 million people, including almost 120,000 farmers and over one million consumers, with improved food safety and nutrition security,” the World Bank said in a statement.

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 said.

The sector 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, it said.

However, the sector remains prone to climate risks, especially drought which propelled a decline in production in rainfed areas, it said.

The new World Bank 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 World Bank said.

“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,” it said.