Morocco's conservation agriculture goal of one million hectares faces complex on-the-ground realities

The study indicates that the availability of machinery and financing are more significant factors than geography or climate. Morocco is currently far from its target of converting one million hectares to conservation agriculture by 2030, a key objective of the Green Generation 2020-2030 strategy aimed at addressing soil degradation, water stress, and climate change. The research, published in "Agricultural Systems," involved CIHEAM-IAMM, ICARDA, Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, the Universities of Queensland and Alberta, and the German research center ZALF.

It provides a detailed mapping of Moroccan farmers' readiness for this agricultural shift, categorizing farms into four profiles based on structural and functional variables. These profiles were then cross-referenced with a "readiness" index for conservation agriculture, developed from behavioral, informational, and institutional variables. The study found that while many farmers are aware of climate-smart agriculture principles, only a small percentage possess practical knowledge of conservation agriculture techniques.

This suggests that current agricultural extension methods inform without adequately training. Another finding is that farmers most exposed to climatic hazards do not perceive themselves as the most vulnerable, possibly due to chronic exp