Rabat – The President of Morocco’s Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE), Abdelkader Amara, has called for a fairer and more inclusive approach to small and medium-sized family farming, which has long been seen as the “weak link” in public policies.
Amara made these remarks during the opening speech of a council meeting held on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the findings of a new report titled: “Small and Medium Family Farming: Towards a More Suitable, Innovative, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Locally-Based Approach.”
He explained that the council’s opinion was shaped by listening to various experts and actors, conducting a field visit to the Essaouira region, and launching a citizen consultation through the online platform “Ouchariko.”
According to the consultation results, family farmers in Morocco face many difficulties. The most common ones include weak agricultural guidance and support services (27%), vulnerability to climate change (20%), poor organization (16%), and limited access to financing (14.5%).
Amara noted that family farming is not just about small plots of land but a way of life that ensures food security, creates jobs, supports rural stability, protects biodiversity, and preserves traditional practices.
Lack of Public Support
Amara said that although Morocco has made progress in agricultural development, family farming, which makes up about 70% of all farms in the country, still lacks sufficient support and funding. Public policies have not focused enough on this sector.
He pointed out that only MAD 14.5 billion were invested in solidarity farming projects, compared to MAD 99 billion for high-value agriculture. This gap has worsened the situation for family farmers who are struggling with climate change, rising production costs, fragmented land ownership, poor organization, and the influence of middlemen.
He also referred to the council’s 2023 alert note, which recommended reorganizing marketing chains and regulating intermediaries to reduce speculation.
Based on its findings, the council called for making small and medium family farming a national priority due to its economic, social, and environmental roles.
Amara noted the need for a specific action plan that considers different regions’ needs and offers support to improve infrastructure, diversify income sources, and improve access to services.
