Agriculture accounts for 15 to 20 percent of GDP, economist says

Agriculture accounted for 15 to 20 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in the last eight years while added value ranged from 37 to 62 billion dhs, says Mohammed V University economist Mounir Zouiten.

Addressing participants in a workshop on the outlook for agriculture at the regional level, Zouiten said domestic food needs were met 72% for wheat, 52% for sugar, 25% for edible oil, 87% for milk and 100% for meat. Agricultural sales account for 18% of global exports providing 3 million permanent jobs which is 40% of overall job opportunities nationwide and 80% in rural areas, he said.

Zouiten deplored dwindling public investment from 20% end of the 60s to 10% nowadays saying the agricultural funding institution CNCA covers 14 to 20% of the needs while banks stand at a negligible 3%.

The economist stressed the lack of counselling as a major handicap for growth and upgrading of revenue and living standards of 1.5 million farmers averaging 52, two-thirds (70%) of whom working on farmlands not exceeding 5 hectares.