فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In light of the economic and social challenges facing the Kingdom of Morocco, the development of rural areas is becoming increasingly important as a key entry point for achieving inclusive and sustainable economic development. The rural areas host about 42% of Morocco’s population and contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), particularly through agriculture and fisheries, according to data from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). Despite this, these areas continue to suffer from clear structural disparities when compared to urban areas, whether in terms of infrastructure or access to essential services such as health, education, and employment.
Official reports, including those from the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council, confirm that poverty rates in Morocco are heavily concentrated in rural areas, where residents face challenges related to geographic isolation, scarcity of economic opportunities, and high illiteracy rates, especially among women. These indicators remain a barrier to achieving spatial justice and a fair distribution of the benefits of economic growth.
In this context, the Moroccan government has launched several programs in recent years aimed at improving the rural world, including allocating one billion dirhams to support rural employment and provide mobile vocational training units for thousands of young people in villages and hamlets. These steps are part of a broader vision to reduce social and spatial inequalities and create the necessary conditions for the stability of populations in their original homes, rather than migrating to urban centers.
These government initiatives have received support from international partners, notably the World Bank, which approved a loan of $180 million in 2022 to support sustainable agriculture and enhance the resilience of small farmers in the face of climate change. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) continues to finance projects aimed at improving agricultural value chains in mountainous areas and strengthening the capacities of women and youth, creating income-generating opportunities and improving living standards in these regions.
Despite this developmental momentum, the path to achieving integrated rural development remains long, considering the continued issues such as limited access to clean drinking water, deteriorating roads, and the lack of health and educational infrastructure.
Development experts emphasize that overcoming these challenges requires integrated strategies that combine economic, social, and environmental approaches, ensuring balanced development that encompasses all regions and areas, while giving rural areas the importance they deserve within the priorities of public policies.
Source: Fes News Media
