“Technological” agricultural campaign Morocco today
The estimated amount of subsidies for 2023 is about 3.7 billion dirhams to mobilize a total investment of 7.4 billion dirhams.
Facing new climate challenges, Moroccan agriculture is adapting. Managers pay particular attention to innovative solutions and technology. This is what emerged from the intervention of the Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, Waters and Forests Muhammad Sadiki in the House of Representatives. For the latter, agricultural programs planned for 2023 are based on the selection of adaptive and efficient agricultural systems, adaptation and adoption of direct seeding technologies. The minister explained that these projects are part of the Green Generation strategy based on two pillars: the human element as a priority in addition to adaptive and efficient agriculture, ecologically sustainable and climate-intelligent to combat climate change. . The Minister added that the attractiveness of the agricultural sector will be strengthened through the promotion of investments and the integration of youth, development and food industry in order to increase the added value, regulate the market offer and maintain the regular supply of the population. the national market through increasing sectoral competitiveness, market diversification, trade protection and strategic monitoring.
Progress
Regarding the progress of the agricultural campaign, the minister noted that currently 3.76 million hectares of autumn crops are cultivated, 10 percent of which are irrigated, 3.2 million hectares are cereal crops, and 450 thousand hectares are additional fodder crops. 106,000 hectares of legumes and 41,000 hectares of cereals are intended to provide seeds for the next agricultural campaign. In addition, about 30,000 hectares of sugar beet and 1,000 hectares of sugar cane were planted, as well as 80,000 hectares of the most consumed autumn vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, pumpkins, onions, carrots and turnips.
Development of agropolises
The Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests announced that Meknes, Berkane, Tadla and Souss agropoles are being developed as new generation integrated industrial platforms specialized in agro-food. . Emphasizing that the net area equipped on these platforms is 253 hectares, and the number of commercialized projects has reached 294, Mr. Sadıki reminded that the ministry launched an ambitious strategy for the creation of 7 agropoles in the initial stage in 2009. Meknes, Berkane, Tadla, Souss, Haouz, Gharb and Loukkos. This strategy aims to create an appropriate framework for the integration of all agricultural value chains and the improvement of their productivity, Mr. Sadiki said, noting that the construction of the Souss qualipole has been completed, while the first phase of Loukkos has been completed. agripole has started both the works related to gulipole and the implementation of technical and financial works related to the realization of Gharb and Haouz poles.
Meeting their needs
The minister said that Morocco has achieved high indicators in meeting its demand for agricultural products in terms of production sectors. Emphasizing that the coverage of the “Fruits and vegetables” sector has reached 100%, Mr. Sadiki said that for animal products such as milk and meat, this rate varies between 90-100%, for sugar between 50% and 53%. cereals depending on the year. In this regard, he noted that the Kingdom implements trade policy measures on the basis of increasing sectoral competitiveness, market diversification, trade protection and strategic monitoring, and reminded that the Green Generation strategy places food security at the center of its interests and aims to develop sustainable production. increasing productivity and protecting natural resources in a balanced way with territorial resources. Finally, officials plan to continue promoting investments in the agricultural sector by granting concessions under the Fund for Agricultural Development (FDA) and launching new incentives under the Green Generation strategy. . The estimated amount of subsidies for 2023 is about 3.7 billion dirhams to mobilize a total investment of 7.4 billion dirhams. An electronic platform “Electronic One Window” has been created, which offers the opportunity for farmers to submit subsidy application documents online at https://fda.agriculture.gov.ma/gue.
In terms of agricultural insurance, multi-risk agricultural weather insurance for cereals, pulses and oilseeds should cover about 1.2 million ha, and continuation of the multi-risk insurance program for fruit trees should cover about 50 thousand hectares. As for financing, Crédit Agricole du Maroc Group (GCAM) has taken the necessary financial and regulatory measures, as in previous campaigns, to respond to requests for financing the agricultural campaign under the best conditions.
