| Titre : | Assessment of readiness for conservation agriculture in Morocco: implications for targeting smallholder support (2026) |
| Auteurs : | E. Kertolli ; A. Komarek ; P. Prosperi ; S.-A. Hosseini-Yekani ; X. Fan ; A. Govind ; R. Harbouze ; H. Belhouchette |
| Type de document : | Article |
| Dans : | Agricultural systems (vol. 237, August 2026) |
| Article en page(s) : | p. 104797 |
| Langues : | Anglais |
| Langues du résumé : | Anglais |
| Résumé : |
CONTEXT
Morocco has prioritized conservation agriculture (CA) as an important pillar of its Green Generation 2020–2030 strategy, aiming to convert one million hectares of cereal farmland to CA by 2030 in response to land degradation, water scarcity, and climate stress. OBJECTIVE This study assesses the readiness of Moroccan smallholder farms to adopt CA practices by developing a farm typology with behavioral, attitudinal, and informational variables of CA readiness. METHODS Using data from a 2024 survey of 3589 farm households across nine regions of Morocco, we applied a multivariate approach to identify distinct farm types. We then overlaid these typologies with CA readiness variables, such as perception of CA utility, climate vulnerability, digital tool use, extension access, and CA knowledge, to quantify a CA readiness index for each group. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS Four farm types were identified: diversified farms, drip-irrigated cereal farms, small-scale subsistence farms, and cereal-specialized farms. Drip-irrigated cereal farms showed the highest CA readiness (49.8%), whereas cereal-specialized farms showed the lowest (10.6%), driven by informational and perceptual deficits. The comparison between farm-type readiness and biophysical suitability, using soil and rainfall data, indicates that lower readiness groups operate in environments well-suited for CA. Structural constraints, including limited mechanization, lack of CA-specific equipment, and lack of financial support, were the most reported barriers to adoption. SIGNIFICANCE These findings highlight the limitations of a one-size-fits-all approach to CA scaling in heterogeneous farming systems. By linking farm structure with behavioral readiness, the study identifies farm-type-specific entry points for intervention to overcome binding constraints to CA adoption. Tailored policies, such as bridging awareness-knowledge gaps in drip-irrigated systems, improving climate risk communication among subsistence farmers, and expanding mechanization services, are essential to accelerate overall readiness for CA adoption in Morocco. |
| Cote : | Online |
| URL / DOI : | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2026.104797 |
Documents numériques (1)
 PRO54792.pdf Adobe Acrobat PDF |
