ElleMoutmir helps Moroccan women lead change in sustainable agriculture
The OCP-backed program has trained and connected thousands of rural women to tools, markets, and leadership networks across Morocco.
MOROCCO – Women in Morocco’s rural areas are taking stronger roles in agriculture through ElleMoutmir, a program launched under OCP Group’s Al Moutmir initiative.
The project focuses on equipping women with the skills, tools, and confidence they need to improve their farms and communities.
Since its launch in 2018, Al Moutmir has worked to promote inclusive farming practices built on science and local knowledge. The broader initiative has directly supported more than 40,000 farmers and reached over 540,000 others through digital tools.
Within that structure, ElleMoutmir places women at the center of agricultural progress by combining technical support, business training, and mentorship.
“At the heart of ElleMoutmir lies a simple conviction: rural development cannot be achieved without women,” said a spokesperson from OCP Group.
Field teams made up of agricultural advisers and experts work closely with women farmers to provide one-on-one support and ensure knowledge transfer.
The program focuses on four main groups: women farmers, female agricultural retailers, women’s cooperatives, and young female leaders. Participants learn how to improve soil health, increase yields, and adopt practices that reduce the impact of climate change.
Women involved in the program are now taking active roles in introducing climate-smart farming methods, helping their communities adapt to changing weather patterns while keeping soil fertility and water resources in balance.
“By adopting climate-smart agricultural practices, they are improving yields while contributing to carbon sequestration in soils,” the program noted.
Training, technology, and digital inclusion
ElleMoutmir’s training model combines classroom learning with practical sessions and digital tools. Through platforms such as @tmar, a mobile app that offers farm advice, Minassat Attakwin 3an Bou3d, a distance-learning portal, and T@swiq, an online marketplace, OCP helps women connect to markets and buyers while closing the digital gap in rural communities.
“These tools enable women to access real-time market information, weather forecasts, and financial services,” explained one of the trainers. Another platform, Agripedia, provides easy-to-understand guides on farming methods.
In 2024, Al Moutmir launched Communities of Practice, groups that bring women farmers together to share ideas and learn from one another. One of the leaders, Ihassan Hamoudan, president of the Biosalim cooperative, shared sorghum seeds and techniques with farmers in six regions. “This peer-to-peer model fosters solidarity and collective progress among women,” she said.
Celebrating women’s impact
To mark the International Day of Rural Women, ElleMoutmir will host an event at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) in Benguerir under the theme “Women-Led Agricultural Cooperatives: Collective Power for an Inclusive and Sustainable Agriculture in Africa.”
The event will bring together experts, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to explore strategies for strengthening women-led cooperatives.
So far, the program has supported over 400 women’s cooperatives, 1,000 female farmers, 26 women retailers, and 200 young leaders, helping them access new markets and opportunities.
During the upcoming Al Moutmir Trophies ceremony, outstanding women will receive recognition for their leadership and innovation in agriculture.
By combining science, innovation, and community leadership, ElleMoutmir is showing that empowering women can drive real change in rural Morocco.
As the country continues to respond to the challenges of climate change and food security, this initiative offers a practical example of how inclusion and sustainability can grow together, benefiting both the land and the women who cultivate it.
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