Aziz Rabbah
Tuesday, March 11, 2025

There is a consensus that food security represents a priority of our nation and has been recognized as a goal of the Green Plan and then the Green Generation, as the nation cannot remain hostage to global markets, surrounding tensions, and greedy traders who have lost all sense of patriotism, disregarded their commitments, exploited drought conditions, the absence of market regulation, weak oversight, and sometimes complicity of administration, which has created significant discontent among the public and even within state circles.

The dissatisfaction has been exacerbated by the non-compliance of large farmers, in particular, who received support amounting to hundreds of billions of dirhams and were granted tens of thousands of hectares since the transfer of state-owned companies that were liquidated, such as SODES and SOGETA, to now where they benefit from state-owned lands and communal lands as well as endowments. This, in addition to tax exemptions amounting to billions of dirhams annually and compensations during crises such as droughts and floods, plus a schedule of support services and financing of agricultural development programs including the development and reform of irrigation systems and rural roads, and support for gas, and the list goes on..

In addition to these greedy traders and non-compliant farmers, there is a large group of fishing license holders who have been provided by the state with all the support conditions to enrich themselves, from exportation and processing by exploiting the resources of the Atlantic and Mediterranean seas and even fish farming ponds, to support for purchasing and renewing vessels and equipment.. without forgetting the state’s significant and very costly investments in fishing ports and related industrial zones.

Many of these individuals take everything from the state and demand more.. yet they do not provide any qualitative contribution to the state or society, even when receiving support for imports during shortages like what happened during the Eid al-Adha last year! You would not find a substantial contribution from them in achieving food security, enhancing the middle agricultural class in rural areas, developing the food industry, manufacturing equipment, and investing in vocational, agricultural, maritime training and scientific research.

There is no doubt that the state, with the decisiveness it is currently demonstrating to combat rising prices and hold those responsible accountable, which has been well received by citizens who hope it will be ongoing and comprehensive and deterrent.. is called to review the terms of contracts and specifications with all beneficiaries of land, support, exemptions, and privileges to compel them to comply regardless of their status and positions, potentially leading to the recovery of some of that or placing them on a blacklist preventing them from any new privileges or support even in other sectors.

The path of liberalization, privatization, privileges, and mandates has shown that relying on a national economic elite and granting them all conditions of distinction and competition for decades has not yielded the desired results as two trends have emerged within it: a trend dominated by profit logic without regard to social balances, and a trend that has been unable to achieve competitive capacity in both national and global markets, continuing to rely on state resources and incentives, both involving many groups that evade obligations toward the state and society!!!

It would be more beneficial for the state to initiate the establishment of one or more public companies for food security specialized in agriculture, fisheries, and all related activities from production to direct sale to citizens by transferring the available land from communal lands and state properties and endowments as well as assisting in acquiring private lands, and adding to that fishing licenses and fish farming, as well as licenses for investment under preferential conditions in the logistics sector for storage, transportation, and distribution and in the food industry from industrial real estate to production.

It will be essential for them to forge multiple partnerships with all stakeholders in the food security sector, such as the National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines, the Agricultural Development Agency, the National Fisheries Office, and research institutes specialized in agriculture, fisheries, and water, the training office, and vocational training institutes, among others that open up development prospects, sustainable production, quality, and solidarity marketing.

In addition, this company/these companies can invest in some countries with good food and logistical potential to supply the national market.

They can also establish large markets according to criteria that maintain a balance between the competitiveness of the sector and the interests of private investors and the capabilities of citizens.

To avoid deviating from its supreme goal and to ensure its sustainability with the necessary seriousness, it must receive special attention by positioning it at the level of strategic institutions as stipulated by the organic law of public institutions, subjecting it to a strict governance system that guides costs and improves outcomes.

Thus, the state can ensure the regulation and control of the food products market while enabling many segments of society to access these materials at lower costs and better quality.