Filaha: The FAO Supports the Transformation of Moroccan Agriculture
FAO to Provide Technical Assistance to Morocco’s Filaha Program
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations will offer its technical assistance to Morocco’s Filaha program, which focuses on transforming agricultural food systems. Funded primarily by the World Bank, the program has a total investment of $312 million, including $250 million in the form of a loan from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD).
The announcement regarding the FAO’s involvement was made in a notice on September 2. This initiative aims to support various reforms and investments designed to enhance the resilience of Moroccan agriculture against climate constraints while improving productivity and resource management.
A $312 Million Program
Filaha is financed through multiple sources. The World Bank is contributing $250 million, while the borrower covers $35 million, and an additional $27 million is expected to be mobilized from the private sector.
Of this overall funding, $2.01 million is allocated for technical assistance to facilitate the program’s implementation. This amount corresponds to the budget set aside for this component and does not necessarily reflect the final value of the contract awarded to the FAO, as publicly available documents do not confirm this with certainty.
The UN organization will collaborate with the Ministry of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests on several strategic projects.
Conservation Agriculture at the Core of the Initiative
One of the main focuses of Filaha is the development of conservation agriculture in rain-dependent areas. A budget of $84.32 million has been allocated to this aspect.
The program aims to facilitate farmers’ access to direct-seeders, climate-adapted seeds, and the necessary equipment for modernizing their farms.
The goal is to expand conservation agriculture practices to an additional 360,000 hectares. This approach is expected to enhance soil moisture retention and structure, reduce crop vulnerability to drought episodes, and, in some cases, lower costs associated with mechanical soil work.
The FAO will support the design and monitoring of these initiatives while providing expertise on various structural tools within the program.
Agricultural Data and Digitization
The transformation of agriculture also hinges on better data utilization. In this area, the FAO is expected to contribute to the development of the National Agricultural Register (RNA) as well as a platform dedicated to direct sowing.
The organization will also participate in designing tools to monitor the outcomes of public policies related to food systems. The aim is to have more reliable data to measure the effectiveness of interventions and improve the management of the agricultural sector.
This digital dimension will complement the physical investments made in farms and infrastructure.
Reducing Losses and Valorizing Agricultural Waste
The Filaha program places significant emphasis on reducing food loss and waste, as well as developing a circular economy in the agricultural sector.
Technical and financial studies will prepare the establishment of a platform aimed at promoting the recycling of plastic waste generated by agricultural activities.
Actions are also planned within certain vegetable production sectors to minimize food losses. The challenge is to improve resource use throughout the production chain and to reduce the volume of waste generated by the sector.
Nutrition and a "One Health" Approach
Nutrition is another critical aspect of the program. Preliminary documents outline interventions related to school meals and campaigns aimed at changing certain dietary habits.
In the long run, the initiative aims to benefit 300,000 women.
The FAO will also contribute to efforts related to the "One Health" approach, which considers the integrated interactions between human health, animal health, and the environment.
Strengthening Skills and Agricultural Resilience
Technical assistance will extend beyond studies and investment monitoring. The FAO will also engage in training activities, knowledge transfer, and expertise exchange through seminars, workshops, and international exchanges.
Through Filaha, Morocco aims to enhance its agricultural capacity to address climate constraints while improving productivity and resource use efficiency.
With its $312 million in funding, the program combines agricultural equipment, support for farmers, data, digital tools, loss reduction, and the development of new practices.
In this framework, the $2.01 million allocated for technical assistance represents a limited share of the overall funding but is intended to ensure the management, monitoring, and dissemination of practices developed under the program.
