Over the past 30 years, the World Bank has provided continuous support to the agricultural sector in Morocco. With its international experience and expertise in various sectors (agriculture, irrigation, rural development, inclusion and a gender-based approach, climate change, etc.), the World Bank is one of the Moroccan government’s preferred partners in this sector.
Strengthening the economic lever represented by the agricultural sector was an intelligent choice for Morocco. The Green Morocco Plan, the Moroccan Government’s flagship program launched in 2008, is an integrated comprehensive program aimed at making the agricultural sector one of the most modern and productive sectors in the country. The World Bank has had the privilege of working with Morocco on this initiative through two loans, mobilized in 2011 ($205 million) and 2013 ($203 million) and through financing for the National Irrigation Water Saving Program.
The sectoral dialogue between the Bank and its government partners focuses on improving opportunities for vulnerable persons in rural areas. It also emphasizes increasing value added in the areas of irrigation water and crops, improving management of the agricultural value chain and marketing practices, and promoting local processing by agro-industries to improve the performance of the sector.
The Bank supports the priority reforms aimed at helping Morocco achieve a green and resilient future, one of the action pillars of the Strategic Partnership Framework with the Moroccan government.
Integrated multisectoral World Bank support for Morocco
Green Morocco Plan (PMV):
The two development policy loans (DPL) in support of the PMV granted in 2011 and 2013 have promoted the efforts to modernize the agricultural sector. The goal was to support the modernization reforms in order to strengthen domestic markets, provide assistance to small farmers, enhance agricultural services and improve the distribution of irrigation waters.
Irrigation system modernization projects:
The World Bank has supported the National Irrigation Water Saving Program (PNEEI) since it was launched in 2008. This support was provided in two phases, through two investment projects: (i) the Irrigated Agriculture Modernization Project in the Oum er Rbia basin perimeter, PROMER ($70 million, 2010-2017); and (ii) the Large-Scale Irrigation Modernization Project, PMGI ($150 million, 2016-2022).
The two projects, which target large-scale irrigation perimeters, are operated by the Regional Agricultural Development Offices (ORMVAs) of Tadla, El Haouz, Doukkala and El Gharb and coordinated by the Directorate of Irrigation and Rural Infrastructure (DIAEA). PROMER and PMGI support the modernization of water distribution networks to offer farmers individual, reliable and equitable access to water 24 hours a day.
Green Growth Development Policy Loan:
The programmatic loan in support of green growth is a development policy loan (DPL) divided into two tranches (DPL1 and DPL2) for a total amount of $600 million. Its purpose is to support the Moroccan government in the preparation and implementation of cross-cutting reforms to strengthen its green positioning.
Agribusiness project:
The Agri-Food Value Chains Strengthening Project is currently being prepared. Its goal is to enable small farmers, SMEs and the agro-industry sector to access markets with high-quality products from select agri-food sectors while increasing their resilience to climate change. The program will also aim to support some of the institutional (and structural) objectives of the PMV.
ASIMA project:
The Social and Integrated Agriculture Project (ASIMA) aims to support the implementation of land and biodiversity conservation measures in projects directed at small farmers in the two target regions of Souss Massa Draa and Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz. At a total cost of $41.98 million (of which $35.54 million is being provided by the Moroccan government and $6.44 million consists of a grant from the Global Environment Fund), the project is being implemented by the Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA) and the Provincial Agricultural Directorates of Rhamna, Essaouira, Haouz Agadir and Tiznit.
Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project (ICZM):
The ICZM project involves a grant of $5.18 million from the Global Environment Fund and covers the eastern Mediterranean coast of Morocco. The project is being implemented by the Ministry of Energy, Mines, Water and Environment (MEMEE) together with other institutional partners.
The ICZM aims to:
- strengthen the capacity of the institutions concerned to establish an integrated approach to the management of coastal zone resources;
- make investments to improve the management of coastal resources and provide subsistence resources to improve fisheries management and create income-generating activities.
Rural roads project:
Since 2006, the World Bank has supported the Second National Rural Roads Program (PNRR2), which aims to improve access to all-season roads for the rural population. The World Bank has provided $240 million in support for the government’s rural roads program.
This project, which is being implemented by the Road Financing Fund and the Roads Directorate of the Ministry of Equipment, Transport and Logistics, covers the regions of Tanger-Tétouan, Taza-Taounate-Al Hoceima, Fès-Boulemane, Meknès-Tafilalet, Tadla-Azilal, Doukkala-Abda, Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër, Grand Casablanca, Oriental, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Chaouia-Ouardigha, Gharb-Cherarda-Beni Hsan, Souss-Massa-Draa, and the province of Guelmim.