Morocco: From Transit Route to Migrant Destination

Morocco is transforming from a transit country to a migrant destination, driven by agricultural labor demands and urban migration. Sub-Saharan migrants are filling a labor gap left by Moroccans moving to cities. This shift impacts migration patterns, farm economics, and Morocco's labor market dynamics.

In Morocco's fertile territories, pickup trucks filled with migrants from sub-Saharan Africa navigate past extensive fields of plastic greenhouses. These structures produce an abundance of fruits and vegetables destined for European and West African supermarkets. Originally en route to Europe, many of these migrants choose to remain in Morocco to address a growing shortage in domestic farm labor.

This marks a shift in Morocco's role within international migration flows, evolving from a transit point to a destination country. This change contributes to recent declines in attempted crossings to Europe. With stricter border controls and abundant agricultural employment due to rural Moroccans moving to urban construction and service jobs, the trend is likely to persist.

The Chtouka plains in the Souss-Massa region, where greenhouse farming generates more than 80% of Morocco's agricultural exports, highlight these dynamics. Migrants are crucial, as evident from Abdulfattah Aliou's experience, a Togolese migrant who now works in tomato farms instead of attempting to cross into Europe.

(With inputs from agencies.)