The Office of Cooperation Development (ODCO) is taking part for the first time in Morocco’s International Agriculture Fair, marking a significant step in promoting the role of cooperatives within the North African country’s agricultural ecosystem.
The 18th edition of the event is scheduled to take place in Meknes from April 20 to April 28, under the theme: “Sustainable Livestock Production and Food Sovereignty.”
ODCO’s inaugural participation points to its commitment to showcasing the strategic importance of cooperatives in advancing Morocco’s agricultural development. In line with this year’s theme, the institution is emphasizing the cooperative model as a key driver of local production, agricultural value chain structuring, and the consolidation of national food sovereignty.
This presence also reflects a shift in the office’s institutional approach. According to Aicha Errifaai, Director General of ODCO, the office is now expanding its role beyond supporting the creation of cooperatives to strengthening their consolidation, structuring, and professionalization. This evolution aims to enhance the sustainability, performance, and socio-economic impact of the cooperative sector.
In a context shaped by the need to improve agricultural resilience, promote domestic production, and reinforce territorial value chains, the cooperative model continues to demonstrate its relevance. It serves as an effective mechanism for organization, resource pooling, and economic inclusion, particularly in rural areas.
Cooperatives are also a key lever in the implementation of national strategies such as the Green Morocco Plan and Generation Green. They contribute to structuring producers, improving value addition conditions, fostering collective entrepreneurship, and integrating small-scale farmers into the broader economic fabric.
Recent figures highlight the sector’s dynamism. As of the end of 2025, Morocco’s cooperative sector comprised 65,315 cooperatives, including 40,833 agricultural cooperatives, representing 61.5% of the national cooperative network, with a total membership of 541,463 individuals.
The ODCO is a public institution tasked with supporting, structuring, and promoting the cooperative sector in Morocco. It works to strengthen the cooperative model as a lever for economic and social development, inclusion, job creation, and the valorization of territorial potential.