Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Severe drought exacerbates rural unemployment crisis in Morocco


(MENAFN) In Dar Bel Amri, a town north of Rabat, Farm workers gather alongside harvesting machines, their job prospects dwindling amidst a relentless drought that has plagued Morocco for six consecutive years. Mustafa Al-Lubawi, a 40-year-old from the outskirts of Settat, traveled 280 kilometers north in search of work, lamenting the scarcity of opportunities due to the ongoing drought. He now offers his services in harvesting grains and legumes using a tractor-drawn machine.

The drought has significantly reduced the cultivated area in Morocco's countryside, shrinking it from four million hectares in a typical season to just 2.5 million hectares, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture. This drastic reduction has directly impacted job availability, particularly in the agricultural sector, where opportunities have become scarce.

Compounding the economic strain, the unemployment rate in rural areas has climbed sharply. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the same period in 2024, the rate rose from 12.9 percent to 13.7 percent, as reported by the High Commission for Planning. The rural sector saw a loss of approximately 159,000 jobs during this period, contrasting with the creation of about 78,000 jobs in urban centers. This disparity underscores the significant labor market challenges exacerbated by the enduring effects of drought.

Last year, Morocco recorded its highest annual unemployment rate since 2000, reaching 13 percent by the year's end. The loss of around 157,000 jobs in rural areas played a pivotal role in this statistic. Agricultural sector expert Abdel Rahim Handouf highlights the direct correlation between climate fluctuations and unemployment rates, noting that despite contributing up to 14 percent of the GDP in rainy years, the agricultural sector remains a critical employer for nearly a third of Morocco's active population.

The plight of Moroccan farm workers and the broader rural community underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to mitigate the impacts of prolonged droughts. As climate challenges persist, initiatives to bolster resilience in rural economies and support alternative livelihoods become increasingly crucial to alleviate unemployment and socioeconomic disparities in affected regions.

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