The ARGANE FOUNDATION
La Fondation pour l'Arganier	Au Maroc, un arbre existant depuis des millions d'années disparaît. Le désert s'étend. L'exode rural est important. L'arganier est une possibilité de résoudre ces problèmes.

EXODE RURAL

The impoverished more and more impoverished

L'économiste- Nov. 1, 2000

To be poor means having a daily budget of less than 10 DH (approx. $1), no education and belonging to a large family...In any case, the inquiry on the standard of living for households(1998-1999) addresses the principal characteristics for poor households.

Poverty always prevails on an alarming scale. Close to 5.3 million people live below the poverty line. In the cities, the inhabitants subsist with less than 3,922 DH per year compared to 3,037 DH for those in the country. This means the daily budget of the city poor is 10.89 DH, while that of the rural poor is 8.43 DH. Combined, 19% of the population lives below the city and rural poverty lines.

The poverty rate differs according to the sex of the head of the household and where the household is located. In the cities, this rate reaches 12.8% in households managed by women compared to 11.9% for those managed by men. However, in the country, close to 3 out of 10 households managed by men are impoverished compared to 2 out of 10 households managed by women.

The poverty rate also varies according to the age of the head of the household. In the city, there is a higher rate among household heads aged 35 to 44 (13.3%). In rural areas, the rate is 29.3% to 29.4% for both the 25-34 age group and the 35-44 age group. The poverty rate is higher for rural household heads aged 45-59: 31.9%.

The level of poverty is equally alarming in larger households (9 people or more). Close to 3 larger families out of 10 are below the poverty line compared to 2 smaller families(1-2 people) out of 10.

The poverty level is also high in families where the head of the household has no formal education (23.2%), whereas the rate is much lower for households where the head has a secondary education or higher. This rate varies according to profession. 2 households out of 10 in which the head is regularly employed are below the poverty line. For household heads that don't have steady employment, the rate is much higher: 23.9%.

As is often the case, poverty is mostly present in the country. The rural poor equal 3.4 million people. Families of more than 9 people are usually the ones affected: 37.8% compared to 2.1% for smaller families.