Solidarity Agriculture

Small-scale agriculture, or solidarity agriculture, constitutes the main source of income for a large share of the rural population. However, it is characterized by low technical and economic performance, which adversely affects the living conditions of this vulnerable population and limits its capacity for adaptation and resilience, particularly in the face of climate change and the degradation of natural resources.

Solidarity agriculture, as a support and accompaniment mechanism, is implemented at the territorial level through public investments specifically targeting smallholder farmers, youth, and women in vulnerable areas.

This program, renewed under the agricultural strategy “Green Generation 2020–2030”, is based, on the one hand, on consolidating achievements and ensuring the sustainability of the results and impacts of projects implemented under the Green Morocco Plan (GMP), and, on the other hand, on the emergence of a new generation of solidarity agriculture projects.

Solidarity agriculture under the Green Morocco Plan (GMP) illustrates the State’s efforts to develop the agricultural sector and combat poverty among smallholder farmers. It has significantly improved the incomes and living conditions of vulnerable populations through an innovative approach centered on projects involving beneficiaries and their organizations, supported by an appropriate and adaptive governance framework.

By the end of 2020, 989 solidarity projects had been launched, benefiting approximately 730.000 people, with a total budget of MAD 14.5 billion. Most of these projects have been completed and handed over to the relevant professional organizations.

In terms of impact, these projects generated more than 66.8 million workdays, including 31.9 million during the investment phase and 34.9 million during the operational phase. The cumulative turnover generated from additional crops and livestock production, as well as from product valorization activities, amounts to MAD 12.6 billion. Moreover, the new plantations established under solidarity agriculture contributed to the sequestration of approximately 1.9 million tons of CO₂ equivalent, thereby acting as sinks for greenhouse gases (GHGs).

The implementation approach of the new generation solidarity agriculture projects is based on an expanded territorial intervention, with the commune as the basic unit, and primarily targets smallholder farmers, youth, and women in vulnerable areas (social, economic, and ecological vulnerability), particularly mountainous, oasis, and desert regions.

To achieve these objectives, the solidarity agriculture program offers a diversified range of projects aimed at sustainably diversifying and intensifying production systems. This includes the planting of climate-resilient and adapted species over approximately 350,000 hectares, as well as encouraging the use of all available adaptation and mitigation solutions.

The program also provides for initiatives to add value to agricultural products to reduce losses and food waste, while improving the preservation of perishable products. In addition, the establishment of agricultural waste management and valorization units is envisaged to reduce dependence on imported inputs.

Finally, particular attention is given to the inclusion and empowerment of rural women and youth, through the promotion of local economic projects and initiatives that foster self-employment and income generation for women and young people who are unemployed or engaged in unpaid agricultural activities, especially in fragile and vulnerable territories.