Morocco continues to face a significant gap between food availability and food security, particularly in rural areas, despite its strong agricultural production, a senior Health Ministry official said Saturday.

Speaking at the 18th International Agriculture Fair in Meknes, Hasnaa Kmih, head of the National Nutrition Program at the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, said the country’s latest national nutrition survey revealed persistent child malnutrition alongside rising obesity rates.

“The issue is not an admission of failure, but rather a call for collective action,” Kmih said during a scientific session held at the annual agricultural forum.

According to the 2020 national nutrition survey, 15% of Moroccan children under the age of 5 suffer from stunted growth, a form of chronic malnutrition that is often irreversible.

At the same time, about 10.7% of children in the same age group face overweight or obesity problems, creating what officials described as a “double burden” of malnutrition and overnutrition.