11 MARTINDALE CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF PRIVATE ENTERPRISE In Morocco, agencies and programs exist to combat water scarcity by advocating for water-saving techniques. For example, water resource information must be publicly available to increase transparency and water use efficiency (European Training Foundation, 2021). Additionally, regulations and restrictions are in place, such as banning cultivation of certain water-intensive crops (Adraoui & Jaafar, 2023). These efforts have been successful, and until now Morocco has been able to maintain overall water security. Yet, the country still faces climate-related challenges that demand constant reevaluation and stronger conservation efforts to protect its remaining water resources. Current agricultural landscape Agriculture is one of the largest sectors of Morocco’s economy, accounting for nearly 13% of its GDP (International Trade Administration, 2024). Approximately one-third of all Moroccans are employed in agriculture, making the success of this industry fundamental to their collective well-being and the overall economy (Galal, 2023). In rural areas, agriculture is even more essential, with 80% of the labor force in rural regions employed solely in that sector (World Bank, 2019). With 43% of Morocco’s population living in rural areas, the agricultural sector has a direct impact on the lives of a significant regional portion of Moroccans (Ghanem, 2015). In Morocco’s agricultural sector, there are two types of farms: larger, industrial farms, which export mainly to national and international markets, and small farms, with goods primarily for personal, family, and local consumption. Approximately 70% of all farms in Morocco are under five hectares in size and classified as “family farming,” meaning they are managed by members of a family and rely mostly on nonwage family labor (Ghanem, 2015). A significant portion of Moroccans are smallholders, but the country as a whole is affected by large farms in regard to GDP and economic growth—both types of farms are integral to Morocco. Agricultural extension agencies are a crucial resource, providing farmers with education, training, and development of skills and technology that boost efficiency, yields, and profits. Morocco has a network of decentralized extension agencies under the remit of the Direction de l’Enseignement, de la Formation et de la Recherche (DEFR) (Directorate for Education, Training, and Research). The mission of the extension system is to be “capale of simultaneous integration into the national agricultural strategic priorities and rural development,” disseminating “new technologies of crop and animal production for sustainable development” and coordinating “extension activities through the decentralized mechanism and to develop knowledge of rural needs and environment.” To meet these mission goals, there are regional offices, which provide training to farmers and are accessible to those in remote areas. There are also specific extension offices for irrigated versus rain-fed areas to focus on the specific needs of each region (Qamar, 2013). Although Moroccan extension services do offer support to farmers, they have shortcomings that limit their effectiveness. In some cases, their ability to disseminate new agricultural technologies is limited due to inadequate relationships between national and regional staff. Additionally, the relationships among research, education, and extension institutions are weak (Qamar, 2013). Extension offices are often staffed by employees not trained to operate digital technologies, with most having graduated university more than 20 years prior, and there are no continuing education programs. Because of these shortcomings, only 11% of extension workers’ time is spent on technology transfer actions. Extension offices are also confronted with a lack of financial resources, further hindering their ability to effectively help farmers in their region (Bilali et al., 2013). A significant shortcoming of extension agencies in Morocco is the marginalization of women. In Morocco, 48.18% of women are employed in agriculture (Trading Economics, 2024b). Women account for 23% to 35% of labor on family farms, and this number is growing (Ghanem, 2015). Although women work in agriculture, they do not receive the same level of governmental and nonprofit assistance as men. Agricultural extension agencies in Morocco generally are staffed by men. Due to this gender inequity, the specific needs and cultural position of women often are not considered when extension programs are designed. These gender disparities lead to extension offices supporting less than 10% of rural women (Bilali et al., 2013). Additionally, women are not given many opportunities to express their input, causing women in rural areas to lack significant access to extension agencies’ services (Ghanem, 2015). There are three main agricultural education institutes in Morocco: Hassan II Agronomic and Veterinary Institute, National School of Agriculture of Meknes, and National Forestry School of Engineers of Salé. The Green Morocco Plan, a national strategy launched in 2008 in response to a food crisis, with the purpose of investing in and strengthening
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