Editing Economy of Morocco (section)

==Agriculture==
{{Main|Agriculture in Morocco}}
[[Agriculture]] employs about 40% of Morocco's workforce. On the Atlantic coast, where there are extensive plains, [[olives]], [[citrus fruits]], and [[wine grapes]] are grown, largely with water supplied by artesian wells. [[Livestock]] are raised and forests yield cork, cabinet wood, and building materials. Part of the maritime population fishes for its livelihood. [[Agadir]], [[Essaouira]], [[El Jadida]], and [[Larache]] are among the important fishing harbours. In the rainy sections of the northeast, [[barley]], [[wheat]], and other cereals can be raised without [[irrigation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0859768.html|title=Morocco: Introduction|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009163525/http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0859768.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Morocco produced in 2018:

* 7.3 million tons of [[wheat]] (20th largest producer in the world);
* 3.7 million tonnes of [[sugar beet]], which is used to produce [[sugar]] and [[ethanol]];
* 2.8 million tons of [[barley]] (15th largest producer in the world);
* 1.8 million tons of [[potato]]es;
* 1.5 million tons of [[olive]]s (3rd largest producer in the world, behind Spain and Italy);
* 1.4 million tons of [[tomato]]es (15th largest producer in the world);
* 1.2 million tons of [[tangerine]]s (4th largest producer in the world, behind China, Spain and Turkey);
* 1 million tons of [[Orange (fruit)|oranges]] (15th largest producer in the world);
* 954 thousand tons of [[onion]]s;
* 742 thousand tons of [[watermelon]]s;
* 696 thousand tons of [[apple]]s;
* 616 thousand tons of [[sugarcane]];
* 500 thousand tons of [[melon]]s;
* 480 thousand tons of [[carrot]]s;
* 451 thousand tons of [[grape]]s;
* 319 thousand tons of [[banana]]s;
* 256 thousand tons of [[chilli pepper]]s;
* 128 thousand tons of [[Common fig|fig]] (3rd largest producer in the world, only behind Turkey and Egypt);

In addition to smaller yields of other agricultural products.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|title=FAOSTAT|website=www.fao.org|accessdate=6 March 2023|archive-date=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112130804/https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Land===
[[File:Agricultural terraces in Anti-Atlas mountains near Tafraoute, Morocco.jpg|thumb|right|Agricultural terraces in Anti-Atlas mountains]]
Morocco is endowed with numerous exploitable resources. With approximately {{convert|85000|km2}} of arable land (one-seventh of which can be irrigated) and its generally temperate [[Mediterranean climate]], Morocco's agricultural potential is matched by few other Arab or African countries. It is one of the few Arab countries that has the potential to achieve self-sufficiency in food production. In a normal year, Morocco produces two-thirds of the grains (chiefly wheat, barley, and corn [maize]) needed for domestic consumption.

Morocco exports citrus fruits and early vegetables to the European market. Its wine industry is developed, and the production of commercial crops (cotton, sugarcane, sugar beets, and sunflowers) is expanding. Newer crops such as tea, tobacco, and soybeans have passed the experimental stage, the fertile [[Gharb Basin|Gharb plain]] being favourable for their cultivation. Morocco is actively developing its irrigation potential that ultimately will irrigate more than 2.5 million acres (1 million hectares).

Morocco's forestry policy seeks to restore over 600,000 hectares of forest ecosystems, battle soil erosion, control water flow, and boost forestry and tourist revenue. This is supported by the European Investment Bank's development branch, EIB Global.<ref name=":207">{{Cite book |last=Bank |first=European Investment |url=https://www.eib.org/en/publications/20240125-eib-global-impact-report-2023-2024 |title=EIB Global Impact Report 2023/2024 |date=2024-06-13 |publisher=European Investment Bank |isbn=978-92-861-5769-1 |language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Morocco: EIB Global mobilises €100 million for inclusive and sustainable forests |url=https://www.eib.org/en/press/all/2023-558-maroc-bei-monde-100-millions-forets-inclusives-durables |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=European Investment Bank |language=en}}</ref> The EIB-financed component will reforest about 55,000 hectares, resulting in 30 200 years of temporary work and over 6,800 permanent jobs.<ref name=":207" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=Sara Zouiten-Morocco World |title=EIB Commits €100M to Boost Sustainable Forest Management in Morocco |url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/12/359824/eib-commits-euro-100m-to-boost-sustainable-forest-management-in-morocco |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=www.moroccoworldnews.com |language=en}}</ref>

===Drought===
Unreliable rainfall is a chronic problem that produces [[drought]] or sudden floods. In 1995, Morocco's worst drought in thirty years forced Morocco to import grain and adversely affected the economy. Another drought occurred in 1997, and one in 1999–2000. Reduced incomes due to drought caused GDP to fall by 7.6% in 1995, by 2.3% in 1997, and by 1.5% in 1999. During the years between drought, good rains brought bumper crops to market. Good rainfall in 2001 led to a 5% GDP growth rate.

The danger of drought is ever present and still dramatically affects the Moroccan economy, even though Moroccan decisionmakers have recently{{when|date=October 2014}} stated that the economy becomes more diversified and disconnected from rain falls.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} Especially, cereal yields still depend on considerable variation in annual precipitation. Cereals constitute the essential of the agricultural value added and their production is very sensitive to rain falls. More important is that cereal yields determine not only the aggregate value added in the agricultural sector but also economic growth in general.{{citation needed|date=October 2014}} According to the Moroccan economist, Brahim MANSOURI (Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth: Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia Compared, UNECA, 2008), when drought, measured as a dummy variable computed on the basis of the rate of growth of cereal yield, endangers extremely, the growth rate of real GDP would fall by 10%.

===Cannabis===
Morocco consistently ranks among the world's largest producers and exporters of [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], and its cultivation and sale provide the economic base for much of northern Morocco. The cannabis is typically processed into [[hashish]]. This activity represents 0.57% of Morocco's [[GDP]]. A UN survey in 2003 estimated [[cannabis cultivation]] at about {{cvt|1340|km2}} in Morocco's five northern provinces. This represented 10% of the total area and 23% of the arable lands of the surveyed territory and 1% of Morocco's total arable land.<ref>http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2003/unisnar826.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116123211/http://www.unis.unvienna.org/unis/pressrels/2003/unisnar826.html |date=16 January 2009 }} "Europe's Drug Consumption Stimulates Cannabis Cultivation in Morocco", news release published by the UN Information Service, 16 December 2003</ref>
On May 26, 2021, the Moroccan Parliament voted to legalise the use of cannabis for medical, as well as cosmetic and industrial purposes.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theafricareport.com/74949/morocco-to-legalise-cannabis-for-medical-and-industrial-use/ | title=Morocco to legalise cannabis for medical and industrial use | date=25 March 2021 | access-date=26 April 2022 | archive-date=26 April 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426220120/https://www.theafricareport.com/74949/morocco-to-legalise-cannabis-for-medical-and-industrial-use/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

Morocco is a party to the [[1988 UN Drug Convention]] and in 1992 Morocco passed legislation designed to implement it and its new national strategy against drugs formulated by its National Committee on Narcotics was adopted in 2005. That same year, the [[International Narcotics Control Board]] commended the Government of Morocco for its efforts to eradicate cannabis plant cultivation on its territory, which has resulted in the total potential production of cannabis resin in the [[Rif]] region decreasing by 10% over the previous year. At the same time, the board called upon the international community to support its efforts where possible.<ref>{{cite book|title=Report of the International Narcotics Control Board for 2005|journal=Report- International Narcotics Control Board|publisher=[[United Nations]]|pages=45|isbn=92-1-148209-7|issn=0257-3717|url=http://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/AnnualReports/AR2005/AR_05_English.pdf|date=1 March 2006|access-date=6 January 2017|archive-date=13 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013105347/http://www.incb.org/documents/Publications/AnnualReports/AR2005/AR_05_English.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since the early 2010s, a growing debate is taking place in Morocco about the decriminalisation of cannabis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/11/04/morocco_s_growing_cannabis_debate|title=Morocco's growing Cannabis debate|work=Foreign Policy|access-date=11 June 2015|archive-date=11 November 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111030517/http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/11/04/morocco_s_growing_cannabis_debate|url-status=dead}}</ref> Powerful political parties are among advocates of decriminalisation, as the [[Istiqlal Party]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lavieeco.com/news/actualites/cannabis-l-istiqlal-revient-a-la-charge-25324.html|title=Cannabis : l'Istiqlal revient à la charge|author=La Vie éco|access-date=11 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613074217/http://www.lavieeco.com/news/actualites/cannabis-l-istiqlal-revient-a-la-charge-25324.html|archive-date=13 June 2015}}</ref> and the [[Authenticity and Modernity Party]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.art19.ma/index.php/politique/1203-le-pam-veut-que-le-cannabis-soit-halal-avec-la-benediction-de-benkirane|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407061549/http://www.art19.ma/index.php/politique/1203-le-pam-veut-que-le-cannabis-soit-halal-avec-la-benediction-de-benkirane|url-status= dead|title=France: l'humoriste Dieudonné, le succès qui inquiète? – Art19<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=7 April 2014}}</ref>

===Fishing===
{{Main|Fishing industry in Morocco}}

The fishing industry in Morocco is a leading source of revenue, accounting for 56% of agricultural and 16% of total exports. For a long time, the industry has been an economic pillar for the country.<ref>http://www.oxfordbusinessgroup.com/weekly01.asp?id=4675#english {{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Morocco is considered the [[Fishing industry by country|largest fish market]] in Africa, with an estimated total catch of 1,084,638 MT in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.infosamak.org/english/actualite.cfm?id=283|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717191159/http://www.infosamak.org/english/actualite.cfm?id=283|url-status= dead|title=Hosting System File Manager<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref>