Latest news with #andEnvironmentalCouncil
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
Ya Biladi
24-03-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
King Mohammed VI appoints new officials to key constitutional institutions
King Mohammed VI appointed on Monday, March 24, new officials to constitutional institutions. The announcement was made through a statement by the Royal Cabinet. Abdelkader Amara was named President of the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council. A Moroccan PJD politician, he has held various key roles in the country's government, including serving as Minister of Equipment, Transport, Logistics, and Water from 2012 to 2021. He also acted as Minister of Health and Minister of Economy and Finance following the ousting of the respective ministers in 2017 and 2018. Mohamed Benalilou was named President of the National Authority for Probity, Prevention, and the Fight against Corruption. He has served as Ombudsman of the Kingdom since December 2018 and is a career magistrate with extensive experience in both the judicial system and administrative roles. Hassan Tariq was appointed Ombudsman of the Kingdom by King Mohammed VI. He holds a PhD in public law and has had a diverse career, including roles as Morocco's Ambassador to Tunisia and a former member of the Chamber of Representatives. «These appointments reflect the king's ongoing commitment to ensuring that these institutions effectively carry out their responsibilities as outlined in the Kingdom's Constitution», reads the statement. «They aim to strengthen their role in promoting good governance, consolidating participatory democracy, and safeguarding rights and freedoms», it added.
Asharq Al-Awsat
28-02-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Water Shortages Threaten Food and Social Security in North Africa
Politicians and agricultural experts have warned that climate disruptions across several North African countries— including Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria—coupled with rising temperatures each year, are directly impacting water resources. This, they caution, could threaten food, economic, and even social security in these nations, which are structurally reliant on food imports, particularly grains. The loss of agricultural potential, declining farm production, and disruptions to the tourism sector further compound the crisis. Morocco is enduring its seventh consecutive year of severe drought, with rainfall this year down 53% compared to the 30-year average. The prolonged dry spell has led to a shortage of grazing pastures for livestock, reducing meat production and driving up prices in the local market. In response, the country has increased imports of live cattle, sheep, and red meat to meet demand. Morocco has signed a deal to import up to 100,000 sheep from Australia as part of efforts to stabilize local meat prices. The government has also suspended import duties and value-added tax (VAT) on livestock, including cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat, under the 2025 budget. The prolonged drought—described as the worst since the early 1980s—has led to a 38% decline in livestock numbers, with rainfall 53% below the 30-year average, Agriculture Minister Ahmed El Bouari said in mid-February. As a result, reservoirs across the country have been severely depleted, causing major job losses in the agricultural sector and prompting authorities to accelerate water desalination projects. El Bouari noted that two irrigation reservoirs in the key farming regions were only 2% and 15% full. Nationwide, dam reserves have dropped to 26%, with authorities prioritizing drinking water supplies for cities over irrigation. Morocco's severe drought has drastically reduced per capita water availability, with current resources estimated at less than 650 cubic meters per person per year—down from 2,500 cubic meters in 1960, according to a report by the country's Economic, Social, and Environmental Council. The advisory body warned that this figure could fall below 500 cubic meters by 2030, while international studies suggest climate change could wipe out 80% of Morocco's available water resources within the next 25 years. To combat the crisis, Morocco has built 149 large dams with a total storage capacity exceeding 19 billion cubic meters, along with medium and small dams. The country has also expanded seawater desalination projects, operating nine plants that produce 147 million cubic meters annually, and drilled thousands of wells to tap groundwater reserves. In neighboring Algeria, the western province of Tiaret saw mass protests last summer as residents took to the streets over prolonged water cuts caused by the local dam drying up. The government dispatched senior officials to the region in an effort to quell public anger, pledging urgent measures to resolve what protesters called a looming 'thirst crisis.' Algeria's Water Resources Ministry has warned that the country now ranks among nations with critical water shortages due to prolonged and recurrent droughts. Rainfall deficits have reached between 40% and 50% in recent years compared to historical annual averages, particularly in central and western regions, the ministry said. 'The decline in rainfall caused by climate change has significantly impacted the supply of drinking water, with 20 of Algeria's 58 provinces facing severe shortages,' the ministry stated. It added that, like other Mediterranean countries, Algeria is experiencing a water crisis driven by climate shifts that have disrupted natural precipitation cycles. In response to recurring droughts and dwindling rainfall, the Algerian government has fast-tracked its long-delayed seawater desalination plan to avoid the public protests that have become common as summer approaches, bringing with it a surge in demand for drinking water. In 2023, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune pledged to ensure a stable water supply for the country's 45 million residents for the next 15 years, promising no interruptions in service. As part of its effort to address the worsening water shortage, Algeria's government is advancing a plan to build five seawater desalination plants, each capable of producing 300,000 cubic meters of water daily. Former Minister of Water Resources and Security Karim Hasni had earlier warned of the growing crisis, noting that Algeria's climate has become increasingly arid. He outlined a 'new strategy' that calls for increased reliance on desalination plants, calling seawater desalination the 'optimal solution' as surface water supplies become scarce. Algeria's coastline, stretching over 1,200 kilometers, provides ample resources, along with the expertise and human capital needed to support such initiatives. Meanwhile, Tunisia is facing a dire water shortage due to its worst drought in years, with reservoirs and dams nearly empty. In response, authorities have implemented water cuts for up to seven hours each night, a measure that has sparked concerns about escalating social tensions. The Ministry of Agriculture has also introduced water rationing for drinking purposes and partially banned its use for agriculture, car washing, irrigation of green spaces, street cleaning, and filling private swimming pools. Authorities have warned that violators will face penalties. A report released in March 2024 by Tunisia's Institute of competitiveness and quantitative studies revealed that Tunisia, which has endured six years of drought over the past decade, is now the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to drought and water scarcity. The report's authors warned that this situation could severely hinder Tunisia's economic and social development, urging the government to take climate change into account and strengthen adaptation measures. According to international standards, which set the minimum water requirement at 1,000 cubic meters per person annually, Tunisia has fallen below the water poverty line with less than 500 cubic meters per person per year.
MTV Lebanon
17-02-2025
- Politics
- MTV Lebanon
President Aoun Calls for Israeli Compliance with Agreement, Urges National Unity
President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts to ensure Israel abides by its commitments, urging international stakeholders to uphold their responsibilities. "We are engaged in contacts at various levels to push Israel to honor the agreement, withdraw within the agreed timeframe, and return the captives," Aoun stated during a meeting with a delegation from the Economic, Social, and Environmental Council. "The sponsors of the agreement must assume their responsibility in assisting us." Addressing broader national issues, Aoun praised the success of Lebanese expatriates and questioned why similar achievements could not be replicated at home. "Lebanese individuals excel abroad, so why shouldn't they do the same in their own country? Differences in opinion are sacred, but conflict is detrimental," the President remarked. Aoun further stressed the importance of unity and restoring confidence in Lebanon's institutions. "Lebanon is not built on a single component; all efforts must be combined to rebuild trust between the state and the people, as well as between Lebanon and the international community," Aoun asserted.
