Crédit Agricole du Maroc and the Ministry of Agriculture signed an agreement to help rural farmers learn basic financial skills such as budgeting, saving, and using credit properly.
The programme, signed during the International Exhibition of Agriculture in Morocco (SIAM 2026) in Meknès, focuses on people involved in the PADERMO rural development project in eastern Morocco.
It will train 10,000 people through 400 sessions in 19 communes across Oujda-Angad, Berkane, Driouch, and Guercif. Women and young entrepreneurs are the main focus.
The initiative is part of Morocco’s Generation Green 2020-2030 plan, which aims to modernise farming and improve productivity.
PADERMO rural development programme is a major rural project launched in January 2024. It aims to improve living conditions in mountain areas of Morocco’s east. It has a budget of around 1 billion dirhams, including 87 million euros from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
The project focuses on improving rural infrastructure and water systems. The financial training is meant to help farmers manage their income better and make better use of higher production.
A key part of the plan is also digital banking. Crédit Agricole du Maroc has set up local service points called Relays, which allow people in remote areas to carry out banking transactions without travelling to cities. The training is meant to help more farmers use these services.
The Oriental region has low rainfall and many small farms. The programme targets areas like Oujda-Angad and Berkane, where farming is still the main source of income.
The announcement was made during SIAM, where there is now more focus on the people in farming, not just machinery and production.
Officials say the aim is to help farmers make better financial decisions and reduce the risk of debt problems.
The wider goal is to support jobs in rural areas, especially for young people and women, and reduce migration to cities.
