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Agricultural activities are an effective tool in the fight against poverty especially in rural areas, says the Moroccan Center of Conjuncture (CMC) in its latest monthly publication “Morocco Conjoncture” devoted to “Agriculture: what issues for the Moroccan economy?”.
“Moroccan agriculture remains the country’s largest source of employment with almost 40% of total employment and is therefore an effective tool for combating poverty, particularly in rural areas,” says the CMC in a statement on publication of his last issue composed of several axes.
The agricultural sector, according to the same source, contributes around 12% to the gross domestic product, adding that the Green Morocco Plan (PMV) has confirmed that agriculture can be a powerful lever for economic growth, HCP reports.
“However, the shortcomings in the mobilization of the potential for competitiveness must be bridged, particularly with regard to the construction of an efficient logistics service offering, for a better organization and optimization of production and marketing flows”.
This approach is more and more important to mark an inflection towards the generation of more synergies between the different actors and in favor of the consolidation of the competitive value chains, answering the requirements of the national as well as international markets, stresses the CMC, considering that this goes through the genesis of an agricultural and agro-industrial ecosystem that leads to a better valuation of agribusiness sectors.
The publication also indicates that the agricultural sector, because of its economic importance and its ramifications in the social fabric, remains the central pillar of the Moroccan economy and the fundamental basis of any model aiming at a sustainable development of the country.
With all its sectors, from cereals to fishing, through arboriculture and livestock, the weight of agriculture is reflected in the population it directly affects, that of the rural world with its 13 , 5 million inhabitants, or 40% of the total population of Morocco.
In addition, the CMC stresses that the agricultural sector is one of the most powerful levers on which leaders can take action to end extreme poverty, strengthen the sharing of prosperity and feed an increasingly large population, noting, however, that climate change may hinder the ability of agriculture to generate growth and food security for all economies around the world.
The challenge in the coming years is to further develop this activity while preserving the environment, he says.
On the axis “Experience and rural development: what lessons?”, The publication indicates that, worldwide, recent efforts to fight against poverty have made steady progress, noting, however, that poverty rates in areas remain largely above those in urban areas in most regions.
“Rurality” must therefore return to a pivotal role in national and international development agendas, the CMC recommends, adding that the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has called in its report on rural development for Inclusive Rural Transformation, a process through which improved agricultural productivity, increased marketable surpluses, expanded off-farm employment opportunities, improved access to services and infrastructure, as well as the ability to influence policies that will lead to improved rural livelihoods and inclusive growth.
Throughout the world, and especially in the major emerging countries, rural development has recently been established as a priority.
The rural world suffers from persistent deficits that remove it from convergence towards the standard of living in urban agglomerations. Whether at the levels of education, health, housing or even basic infrastructure, all indicators specific to the rural world are behind their urban equivalent.
The rapid convergence of living standards in both environments requires the adoption of public policies focused on rural development in its many dimensions. Priorities should be given to strengthening rural-specific production capacities, led by agricultural activities, the development of economic infrastructure and improved conditions for access to education, health and social services.
