Morocco allocates over $800 million to transform agri-food systems
Morocco's Department of Agriculture is preparing to mobilize technical assistance for the management unit of the Program to Support the Transformation of Agri-Food Systems. This initiative, valued at $807.3 million over five years, is funded by the World Bank, FAO, and the Livable Planet Fund. It will be implemented in ten regions of Morocco to enhance climate resilience and food safety within agri-food systems. The program aims to strengthen the sector, which accounts for 13% of Morocco's GDP, but remains vulnerable to climate hazards like droughts. It aligns with the Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy, focusing on improving resilience, agricultural productivity, and job creation, particularly for rural youth. The program is structured around two main result areas: improving resilience and climate risk management in rainfed agriculture, especially for cereal production, through a transition to conservation agriculture and agricultural insurance reform; and strengthening food quality, safety, and nutrition through supporting healthy food production, distribution safety, and nutritional awareness. The World Bank is contributing $255 million, including a $248 million results-based loan, $2 million for project support with FAO technical assistance, and a $5 million grant from the Livable Planet Fund for conservation agriculture in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region. The Moroccan state will provide the remaining $552.3 million. A steering committee, chaired by the Ministry's Secretar