The impact of agricultural subsidies for irrigation on agricultural production: An empirical analysis of the green Morocco plan in the MEKNES region using propensity score matching (PSM)

This article aims to empirically analyze the impact of the Green Morocco Plan on economic development, with a specific focus on the impact of agricultural subsidies for irrigation on agricultural production in the Meknes region. To do so, we used the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) approach, which allows for the evaluation of the causal effect of subsidies by comparing farmers who benefit from the subsidies with a control group of non-beneficiary farmers. The results show that farmers with access to agricultural subsidies for irrigation experience a significant increase in their agricultural production. The use of modern irrigation tools and complementary technologies, such as localized irrigation systems, has enabled farms to better manage water resources, adopt more resilient crops, and adapt to changing climatic conditions. These practices directly contributed to a 9 percentage point increase in agricultural production compared to the control group.Thus, the study confirms that agricultural subsidies are an effective lever for improving farm productivity in the Meknes region, thanks to the implementation of modern technologies that promote more sustainable and profitable management of agricultural resources.