Casablanca – Morocco’s Agriculture Ministry has launched a pilot to introduce electronic payments for rural cooperatives, testing the system during the 18th International Agriculture Fair (SIAM) in Meknes.
The project, led by the ministry’s financial directorate in coordination with Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM), is rolled out at the pavilion dedicated to local products. Around 50 cooperatives have been equipped with electronic payment terminals, allowing visitors to pay by card instead of cash.
Officials say the initiative is part of the National Financial Inclusion Strategy, particularly its second roadmap, which focuses on increasing the actual use of financial services. The effort targets rural areas, where cash transactions remain dominant and access to formal financial tools is still uneven.
Beyond facilitating payments, the pilot is also expected to push cooperatives toward more structured management practices. Electronic transactions provide traceability and can help improve accounting processes, an area that remains a challenge for many small agricultural groups.
The initiative is being carried out in partnership with several payment sector operators, though specific providers were not disclosed. It is presented as a first step, with the possibility of scaling up depending on the results observed during the fair.
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Morocco has been gradually expanding its digital payment infrastructure in recent years. A key component is the interoperable mobile payment system developed by Switch Al Maghrib (SWAM), formerly HPS Switch, which enables different providers to offer compatible digital wallets under a national framework.
The system was designed to broaden access to financial services and reduce reliance on cash, particularly among unbanked populations.
Other institutions have also introduced initiatives aimed at supporting electronic payments. Barid Cash has expanded mobile and proximity payment services, including in less urbanized areas, while Maroc PME has incorporated digital payment tools into some of its business support programs for small enterprises.
Still, limitations remain. Card infrastructure in rural areas is uneven, internet connectivity can be unreliable, and many users remain more comfortable with cash. For cooperatives, transaction fees and the learning curve tied to new tools could also slow adoption, at least in the early stages.
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