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Add to Preferred SourcesA new €82.6 million agricultural development project financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the Government of Morocco will help 11,200 vulnerable households to increase their productivity and incomes in the face of climate change.
In Morocco, the agriculture sector is the backbone of the economy, contributing 13 percent to the country’s GDP and generating 85 percent of jobs in rural areas. However, the sector is highly vulnerable to climate change impacts, leaving smallholder farmers at risk. The new Taza Mountain Integrated Rural Development Project for the pre-Rif Region (PRODER-Taza) will help to build the resilience of smallholder farmers in Taza Province, where the agriculture sector is dominated by subsistence farming and the production of rainfed crops.
The project financing includes a €31.9 million loan and €0.6 million grant from IFAD. The project will be co-financed by the Government of Morocco (€43.6 million) and the beneficiaries themselves (€6.5 million).
PRODER-Taza will introduce a resilient orchard development model adapted to droughts and higher temperatures to diversify the current grain-dominated crop system. Some 9,800 hectares of almonds, 1,000 hectares of figs and 600 hectares of olives will be planted. Old almond groves will be rehabilitated through grafting.
In addition, 33,000 hectares of cultivated land will be protected against erosion. Sustainable development of the almond, fig, olive and honey value chains will ensure smallholder families can increase their incomes.
PRODER-Taza will be implemented in the Tainast and Aknoul areas, where rural poverty and vulnerability to climate change are high. It will target poor vulnerable smallholder farmers and give special attention to women (40 percent of participants) and young people (40 percent).
Original source: IFAD
Published on 03 December 2019