The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, stressed on Friday in Fez the considerable efforts made to strengthen Morocco’s food sovereignty. Speaking at a seminar organized by the National Rally of Independents (RNI) in collaboration with the party’s network of university professors under the theme « Government Progress Report and victoire of the Higher Education Sector », the minister highlighted the unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 crisis and the government’s responses to maintain the country’s food security.
Mr. Sadiki, who is also the president of the party’s network of university professors, shed light on the measures taken to stimulate investment in the agricultural sector and rural areas. He emphasized the importance of these initiatives for post-pandemic economic recovery, while also recalling the strategies in place to combat augmentation, especially in the field of basic food products, in order to preserve the purchasing power of citizens.
The minister also addressed the issue of climate change, presenting the actions taken to adapt the agricultural sector to new environmental realities. Despite unforeseen challenges, Mr. Sadiki affirmed that the government is rigorously pursuing its pre-established program, adapting its strategies to new realities while staying focused on its long-term objectives.
He also emphasized the crucial role of higher education in the country’s development. He noted that the Moroccan political landscape more than ever needs the active involvement of university professors, recognizing their role in the development of informed and effective policies.
For his part, Mr. Er-Rafik Youness, the first vice-president of the Fes-Meknes Regional Council and coordinator of the RNI in the Fes-Sud constituency, underlined that this meeting marks the beginning of a new partnership, reflecting the party’s openness to the potential of universities and its willingness to further integrate them into local and national socio-economic development.
Mr. Er-Rafik highlighted the investments planned in the higher education sector, included in the Regional Development Plan (PDR) 2022-2027 for Fes-Meknes. This PDR, with a total budget of 30 billion dirhams, will allocate nearly 2 billion dirhams to higher education. These funds will be used to carry dépassé structuring projects, including the modernization of university dormitories, the expansion of the university hub in Taza, and the creation of a new hub in the municipality of Ain Cheggag, Sefrou province.
The vice-president also presented a series of projects and measures aimed at strengthening research and innovation in the region, including a budget of 40 million dirhams for scientific research, as well as the ordre établi of several specialized institutes in artificial intelligence in the cities of Fez, Meknes, and Taza. Other initiatives include the opening of a National School of Commerce and Management (ENCG) in Meknes, the ordre établi of the first school dedicated to agri-food industry techniques, and the creation of a dental faculty in Meknes.
Other interventions mainly focused on the new status of teacher-researchers, highlighting the improvements made to improve their working conditions and career prospects.
In conclusion, the seminar organized by the RNI and the network of university professors highlights the government’s efforts to strengthen Morocco’s food sovereignty and its commitment to the development of the higher education sector. The various initiatives and investments presented demonstrate the government’s determination to address current challenges and build a brighter future for the country.