The Crédit Agricole du Maroc and the Ministry of Agriculture have launched a financial education program aimed at 10,000 farmers and their households in Morocco's Oriental region. The program, part of the Integrated Rural Development Project for Mountainous Areas of Oriental (PADERMO), seeks to improve farmers' financial management skills and increase their income. The project is co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FIDA) and the Moroccan government.
The program was launched at the Beni Snassen Rural Family House in Tafoughalt, Berkane province. It aims to provide farmers with essential financial management skills, including budgeting, saving, credit, insurance, and banking services. The goal is to enhance farmers' financial resilience and promote socio-economic inclusion, particularly for women and young people.
The program will run from 2026 to 2028 and target beneficiaries from 19 communes in Oujda-Angad, Berkane, Driouch, and Guercif provinces. In Oujda, 2,200 people will receive close support to improve their financial literacy and enhance the profitability of their farms. The program includes 36 training sessions, covering five communes, with 900 farmers and their households set to benefit in 2026.
Fouad Zahiri, head of the project execution service at Oujda's Provincial Agriculture Department, emphasized that the program aims to help farmers understand financial management mechanisms and improve their farm profitability. He noted that the first batch of beneficiaries is scheduled for December 2026, as part of the three-year quota of 2,200 farmers in Oujda province.
Mohamed Kadiri, president of the Beni Snassen Rural Family House Association, highlighted that the program marks the beginning of a series of training sessions aimed at equipping farmers with financial management tools. He stressed that the association prioritizes training, believing that it is essential for human capital development and achieving sustainable development.
Noura Lakhdar, representative of Crédit Agricole du Maroc, explained that the financial education program focuses on promoting banking and financial transactions, helping farmers prioritize objectives, and inculcating simplified budget management methods. The program also aims to raise awareness about the importance of savings, credit, and insurance.
The PADERMO project aims to improve living conditions for rural populations and reduce their vulnerability to climate change by enhancing capacities, increasing household income, and promoting agricultural production, income diversification, and product valorization.
Key points
- The program targets 10,000 farmers and their households in Morocco's Oriental region.
- The program aims to improve farmers' financial management skills and increase their income.
- The project is co-financed by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (FIDA) and the Moroccan government.
