Aiming at a fair and democratic sharing of wealth, cooperatives offer an attractive formula to small artisans, farmers or other traders who can, thanks to their inclusive approach, offer quality products on a more controlled scale.
Concerned about promoting sustainable and inclusive development, the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) was able to quickly recognize the potential of this business model in Morocco, granting them valuable support which saw their number and their output grow. exponentially in recent years.
In the prefecture of Meknes, the INDH has deployed major resources to support all types of cooperatives which play a crucial role in helping artisans and farmers to structure their income-generating activities and improve their financial and social situation.
Between 2019 and 2023, some 67 cooperatives benefited from support from the INDH in the prefecture of Meknes as part of its Phase 3, for a total cost of more than 13 million dirhams (MDH), including a contribution of 8. 5 MDH from the Initiative in favor of 376 beneficiaries, revealed to MAP the head of the program for Improving income and economic inclusion of young people from the INDH in the prefecture of Meknes, Hamid Chiadmi.
The INDH’s help does not stop there. As Mr. Chiadmi explained on the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Cooperatives (first Saturday of July each year), these cooperatives also benefit from training in the areas of accounting, marketing, as well as monitoring and evaluation by design offices.
A shining example of the success of the INDH’s action in promoting the social and solidarity economy, the agricultural cooperative “Lembarkia”, specializing in beekeeping, production and marketing of honey.
Located in Aïn Orma, about twenty kilometers from Meknes, this small cooperative was founded in 2012 and benefited from the support of the INDH in 2019.
“We benefited from support of 190,000 Dh from the INDH, a contribution of 70% to the financing of the cooperative project which was able to obtain, in the process, certifications from the National Office for Health Safety of Products Food,” the president of the “Lembarkia” cooperative, Arif Arkaz, told MAP.
Bringing together nine employees, including five women, this cooperative specializes in the production of several types of honey, including flower and thistle honey from the Middle Atlas.
“Thanks to the support of the INDH, we can produce between 8 and 10 kg of honey per hive for flower honey. With around 160 hives, this makes a production of 1.6 tonnes just for this variety,” said Mr. Arkaz.
And to add that the honey is resold at different fairs for prices varying between 120 dh and 250 per kg depending on the variety.
Another example of the INDH’s all-out action: the cooperative “Afak Linnajah Wa Al Moustakbal”, located in the Nassim district of Meknes and dedicated to traditional sewing and embroidery, also demonstrates the sustained efforts of the Initiative in favor of women’s empowerment.
“Initially, there were five of us women who founded the cooperative in 2023. We quickly obtained the support of the INDH which allowed us to acquire new equipment and embroidery machines,” the president of the cooperative, Hassana Oussaid.
“The impact of this aid was instantaneous. Previously, it took us more than a month to complete a piece. Now, we can produce several pieces per day,” she said, noting that the INDH contributed 60% to the financing of the project, i.e. a total amount of 190,000 Dh.
The takeoff achieved thanks to the cooperative’s new equipment has allowed it to practically transform itself into a training center for many women who find refuge there to learn the traditional art of Moroccan embroidery.
The caftans, djellabas and other traditional tablecloths which are produced by the cooperative are then resold at fairs and shows. The cooperative also takes orders from individuals, helped by the growing number of members, rejoiced Ms. Oussaid.
The cooperatives of “Lembarkia” and “Afak” are eloquent examples of the success of the INDH’s approach to promoting the social and solidarity economy, making cooperatives levers of sustainable economic growth and an effective means fight against poverty.