Morocco secures $110 million boost for agriculture
The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a scalable loan intended for agriculture in Morocco, specifically incentivising women and young entrepreneurs to get involved in the country’s increasingly strained industry, The Arab Weekly via Reuters reported on July 22nd.
The Bank has supported Morocco for over 50 years, investing around $17.46 billion in more than 150 projects across multiple sectors. The most recent investment is allegedly $110 million.
This latest investment aims to boost Morocco’s agricultural sector specifically, with the loan claimed to be going toward strengthening small-scale farming, enhancing food security, and creating a sustainable pathway for women and young people into agriculture through promoting entrepreneurship.
The outlet cites that the programme is pushing to improve the female labour force in particular, supposedly aiming to solidify their position in rural value chains by enhancing their skills in multiple aspects, such as agri-processing and digital technologies.
The head of the African Development Bank’s Morocco office, Achraf Tarsim, said: “Women who have the ambition to undertake and succeed in agriculture are our priority.”
Female farmers in Morocco have faced a number of challenges in the past year. Maghrebi.org reported how the increased outsourcing of the agricultural industry has left women facing wage discrimination, working under poor conditions, and a disproportionate threat to job security.
Morocco’s agricultural industry has taken huge hits due to droughts, with record breaking heatwaves drying up large proportions of land. 38% of livestock has been diminished since 2016 and environmental experts are calling for serious reforms.
With the investment from the AfDB, Morocco continues its long struggle against drought and its affects on key parts of their economy.
The Arab Weekly via Reuters, Maghrebi.org
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