Latest news with #CESE
Morocco World
14-05-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
CESE: 70% of Morocco's Farms Are Family-Run, Yet Still Underfunded
Rabat – The President of Morocco's Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE), Abdelkader Amara, has called for a fairer and more inclusive approach to small and medium-sized family farming, which has long been seen as the 'weak link' in public policies. Amara made these remarks during the opening speech of a council meeting held on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the findings of a new report titled: 'Small and Medium Family Farming: Towards a More Suitable, Innovative, Inclusive, Sustainable, and Locally-Based Approach.' He explained that the council's opinion was shaped by listening to various experts and actors, conducting a field visit to the Essaouira region, and launching a citizen consultation through the online platform ' Ouchariko .' According to the consultation results, family farmers in Morocco face many difficulties. The most common ones include weak agricultural guidance and support services (27%), vulnerability to climate change (20%), poor organization (16%), and limited access to financing (14.5%). Amara noted that family farming is not just about small plots of land but a way of life that ensures food security, creates jobs, supports rural stability, protects biodiversity, and preserves traditional practices. Lack of Public Support Amara said that although Morocco has made progress in agricultural development, family farming, which makes up about 70% of all farms in the country, still lacks sufficient support and funding. Public policies have not focused enough on this sector. He pointed out that only MAD 14.5 billion were invested in solidarity farming projects, compared to MAD 99 billion for high-value agriculture. This gap has worsened the situation for family farmers who are struggling with climate change, rising production costs, fragmented land ownership, poor organization, and the influence of middlemen. He also referred to the council's 2023 alert note, which recommended reorganizing marketing chains and regulating intermediaries to reduce speculation. Based on its findings, the council called for making small and medium family farming a national priority due to its economic, social, and environmental roles. Amara noted the need for a specific action plan that considers different regions' needs and offers support to improve infrastructure, diversify income sources, and improve access to services.
Morocco World
12-04-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco Tackles Food Waste with 4.2 Million Tons Wasted Annually
Rabat– The Economic, Social, and Environmental Council (CESE) has reviewed a draft opinion on food loss and waste in Morocco, addressing the country's alarming scale of food waste estimated to exceed 4.2 million tons annually. This discussion took place during the latest ordinary session of the CESE General Assembly, chaired by Abdelkader Amara. The council's efforts aim to tackle the significant food waste issue and propose solutions for a more sustainable approach to food production and consumption in Morocco. The draft opinion aims to address the causes of food waste , including losses associated with subsidized products, and to propose recommendations that could lead to a structural transformation in production models and consumption habits. In it, the CESE emphasizes the importance of considering Morocco's national context and territorial specifics when formulating these recommendations. Read also: Turning Africa's Agricultural Waste into Next-Generation Battery Materials According to the latest weekend edition of leading Moroccan Arabic newspaper Assabah, the draft also seeks to contribute to enhancing food security and strengthening its resilience through more efficient management of food losses and waste. The draft notably aims to 'contribute to improving food security and strengthening its resilience through efficient management of food losses and waste,' the newspaper reported. It added that this issue of food waste had already been raised in the Moroccan parliament, stressing: 'The parliamentary group of the National Rally of Independents (RNI) at the Chamber of Councillors had previously introduced a bill aimed at fighting food waste in Morocco.' Meanwhile, a recent report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) highlighted the scale of the issue. It revealed that Morocco wastes 4.2 million tons of food annually, the equivalent of 113 kilograms per person. This staggering statistic highlights the urgent need for comprehensive action to address food waste and its economic, environmental, and social impacts. Tags: food moroccoFood Wastefood waste solution
