Morocco Launches $109 Million Initiative to Combat Rural Unemployment and Modernize Agriculture

Morocco is set to roll out a 1-billion-dirham ($108.5 million) national program aimed at tackling rural youth unemployment and driving agricultural modernization, the Ministry of Agriculture announced. Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari shared the plan with Parliament, highlighting its role in the government’s 2025–2030 employment roadmap.Focus on Skills and Cooperatives

The initiative will prioritize:

Practical training for 90,000 young people, supported by agricultural advisory services.

Creation of 3,400 cooperative farming projects, mainly in livestock.

The program also offers financial incentives—subsidies, land-leasing support, and investment aid—to help young entrepreneurs access land and launch businesses, aiming to boost rural employability while fostering long-term economic growth.

Addressing Massive Job Losses

Morocco’s agricultural sector has faced significant employment declines. According to Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), nearly 1 million jobs were lost between 2019 and 2024, a trend that continued into 2025. The High Commission for Planning (HCP) reports a drop of 108,000 jobs in agriculture, forestry, and fishing between Q2 2024 and Q2 2025.

BAM attributes the decline to prolonged droughts since 2019, worsening water stress from climate change, and increased mechanization. Between 2008 and 2018, Morocco’s agricultural machinery stock grew sharply, with tractors rising from 40,000 to 75,000 and combine harvesters from 3,000 to 7,000 units.

Climate-Smart and Tech-Oriented Training

The program emphasizes climate-smart agriculture and digital skills to prepare rural youth for a modernized sector. Training will focus on precision technologies, including smart irrigation, soil sensors, drones, and crop-monitoring systems, ensuring that Morocco’s next generation of farmers can adapt to climate pressures and a rapidly evolving labor market.