Rabat – More than half a million livestock farmers across Morocco, mostly smallholders, now count among the beneficiaries of a state-backed effort to ease the burden of feed costs.
Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari announced the figures before the House of Representatives on Monday, addressing the mounting pressures small-scale herders face amid shifting weather conditions and market instability.
The subsidized feed program, rolled out in response to recurrent droughts, reaches a significant number of farmers who also rely on the government’s free veterinary campaigns.
El Bouari reported that close to 17 million sheep and goats received vaccinations in recent drives, part of broader efforts to maintain animal health and protect rural livelihoods.
He also noted that nearly three-quarters of the Agricultural Development Fund’s direct aid and incentives support small-scale farms.
The fund, often seen as the engine behind Morocco’s rural resilience, channels resources to those with limited land and low livestock numbers.
El Bouari also talked about plans for a national program set to launch in the 2025–2026 season.
Designed as an integrated and long-term response, the initiative will center on solidarity-based agriculture, with the state fully financing animal production projects.
Authorities hope to reverse the decline in livestock numbers and help herders rebuild their flocks over the next few years.
At the heart of these efforts is the “Generation Green” strategy, which the minister described as a roadmap tailored for small and medium-scale farmers. According to ministry data, 80% of Moroccan herders own fewer than 30 head of sheep or goats, a reality the strategy seeks to address through targeted support, infrastructure, and access to resources.
In February, Morocco officially announced the cancellation of the Eid Al Adha sacrifice, citing the ongoing drought and related difficulties that have severely affected the country’s agricultural seasons and overall economy over the past six years.
