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Abstract

This article analyzes the place of agriculture in Morocco's development strategy since independence. Although agriculture is officially a priority sector, it fails to ensure the country's food self-sufficiency and security, covering only part of cereal, dairy and edible-oil consumption while employing over 40% of the active population for only 15% of GDP. The author reviews the objectives and means of agricultural policy — the dam-building strategy, the 1969 Agricultural Investment Code, and agricultural credit — and shows that public action has chiefly benefited large irrigated estates, aggravating regional and social inequalities and the proletarianisation of the peasantry. State subsidies, mechanisation, fertiliser and selected-seed use, and the differentiated evolution of deficit and export crops are examined with extensive statistics. The deteriorating agro-food trade balance and growing food dependence are documented. Finally, the article critically assesses the World Bank-sponsored medium-term structural adjustment programme (PAMTSA, 1985-1990), questioning its capacity to reconcile growth and social equity.

DOI

10.66499/2665-7112.1638

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