Morocco’s agricultural heartland has been hit hard by climate change.  Successive droughts, interspersed with unexpected violent storms, have accelerated the adoption of new approaches for farming and water resource management.   The World Bank is supporting Morocco across a range of programs to address the challenges. Three other projects and programs, the “Strengthening Agri-Food Value Chains” ...

In 2018, the Constitutional Court of South Africa decriminalised the private use and cultivation of cannabis for personal consumption in the renowned judgement of Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and Others v Prince; National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Rubin; National Director of Public Prosecutions and Others v Acton and Others [2018] ZACC ...

The International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) has sought to develop drought-resistant breeds of cereals to combat years of dryness in Morocco. In the heart of sun-soaked Morocco, scientists are cultivating a future where tough crops defy a relentless drought, now in its sixth year. “Look at these beautiful ears of wheat,” ...

The advent of agriculture roughly 11,500 years ago in the Middle East was a milestone for humankind — a revolution in diet and lifestyle that moved beyond the way hunter-gatherers had existed since Homo sapiens arose more than 300,000 years ago in Africa. While the scarcity of well-preserved human remains from the period preceding this ...

A researcher from the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dry Areas walks in a cultivated field in the Marchouch region of northwestern Morocco on April 18, 2024. (AFP) In the face of “extremely high” water stress, Morocco’s cultivated areas are expected to shrink to 2.5 million hectares drastically The kingdom’s agricultural research agency aims ...

Drought-hit Morocco has been hosting an international agriculture fair in the city of Meknes this week (SIAM), focusing on climate resilience and sustainability. Some 70 countries and 1,500 exhibitions took part in the 16th edition of the expo, with some 800,000 expected visitors. More than 10 large tents displayed various agricultural products and services, including ...

The 16th edition of Morocco’s International Agricultural Fair (SIAM), the most outstanding agricultural event on the African continent, will be held in Meknes starting today, April 22, until April 28. Spain is this year’s guest of honor. 37 Spanish companies specializing in agricultural technology will be part of the event. Organized by the Moroccan Ministry ...

Ministers emphasized the critical need for more funding to help developing countries transition to clean energy sources, implement national climate plans, and build resilience to climate impacts. Reforms to the global financial system and innovative funding mechanisms are seen as crucial. The conference highlighted the importance of strengthening climate knowledge and decision-making tools, raising ambition ...

Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Mohamed Sadiki. Apr. 23, 2024. | Photo: X/@HespressFr “Food insecurity persists in Africa primarily because agricultural productivity has not kept pace with population growth.” The Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, Mohamed Sadiki, called this Tuesday to increase the “very modest” investment in research in ...

The conference, co-organized by Morocco and the FAO, aims to develop practical solutions for food security and rural development across Africa. FAO Director-General Dongyu Qu commended Morocco’s pioneering role in agri-food system transformation. He highlighted the country’s advancements in agricultural modernization and diversification, achieved through investments in modern irrigation systems, greenhouse cultivation, and aquaculture technologies. ...