Climate Change-Driven Unemployment Crisis in Morocco
In the sun-baked village of Dar Bel Amri, north of Morocco’s capital Rabat, Mustapha Loubaoui and other itinerant workers are feeling the harsh effects of a six-year drought. Loubaoui, a 40-year-old farmer, traveled 280 kilometers in the hopes of finding work, only to be met with disappointment. The once-thriving agricultural village is now struggling to provide employment opportunities due to the scarcity of water caused by the prolonged drought.
The impact of the drought is not limited to Dar Bel Amri; it extends across Morocco and its neighboring countries, Algeria and Tunisia. The European Drought Observatory’s analysis reveals that large areas of the Mediterranean are under “alert drought conditions,” with Morocco being one of the most affected regions. The lack of water poses a significant threat to Morocco’s agriculture sector, which employs around a third of the working-age population and contributes to 14 percent of exports.
According to Agriculture Minister Mohammed Sadiki, more than one-third of Morocco’s total cultivated area remains unused due to the drought. The shrinking arable land has led to a decline in employment opportunities, with the country’s unemployment rate reaching a record 13.7 percent in the first quarter of 2024. The High Planning Commission (HCP) reports that 1.6 million Moroccans are currently unemployed, attributing the situation to the ongoing effects of the drought.
One of the individuals affected by the crisis is Chlih El Baghdadi, a farmer from Dar Bel Amri. His grain harvest suffered significant losses due to the drought, forcing him to rely on his wife’s income from a larger farm near Meknes to support their family. While commercial farms with advanced irrigation systems have managed to survive the drought under the “Green Morocco Plan,” small-scale farmers like El Baghdadi continue to struggle.
Despite government initiatives such as the “Generation Green 2020-2030” program aimed at enhancing sustainable agriculture, climate change-driven unemployment persists in Morocco. Abderrahim Handouf, a researcher and agricultural engineer, highlights that while modern agriculture has expanded, it only covers a small percentage of cultivatable areas. The majority of farmers remain vulnerable to climate change impacts, with limited alternative employment opportunities available.
In an effort to address the unemployment crisis, Morocco has focused on developing its industrial and service sectors. However, these sectors have not been able to offset the job losses in agriculture caused by climate-related challenges. While industries like automotive manufacturing have shown growth in exports, they are unable to meet the demand for employment opportunities.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch recently announced plans to create 140,000 new jobs through investment deals in various sectors. However, these numbers fall short of the million jobs promised by 2026. For farmers like Benaissa Kaaouan, who have dedicated their lives to agriculture, the impact of the drought has been devastating. Kaaouan reflects on his zucchini fields in Dar Bel Amri, most of which have been ruined by the lack of rain.
As Morocco grapples with the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and drought, finding sustainable solutions to address unemployment remains a pressing issue. The government’s efforts to diversify the economy and create new job opportunities are crucial in supporting communities affected by environmental crises. Only through collective action and innovative strategies can Morocco navigate through these turbulent times and build a more resilient future for its citizens.