About : La petite agriculture dans la région de Marrakech-... in marrakech marrakech marrakech Travel Marrakech

The socio-economic importance of the agricultural sector in a region like Marrakech - Tensift - Al Haouz is more to show. It is reflected through the contribution of this sector by 7% to the agricultural GDP. The main pillars of agriculture in the region are the olive tree which covers 20% of the national area, contributes 10% of national production and 70% of domestic exports of canned, and apricot with 50% of the national area, with 57% of national production.

The region of Marrakech - Tensift - Al Haouz represents 20% of the argan forest national and 16% of the national grain. Another significant asset lies in the fact that the goals plotted by the new agricultural strategy are clear and perfectly meet the concern to consolidate the acquired success and meet the new challenges of competitiveness, opening and reducing disparities.

It is in this context that the Plan green Morocco shows more solidarity, in around 4 directions of size for the coming years namely: contribution to the guarantee of food security, the improvement of the incomes of farmers, protection and conservation of natural resources and the integration of agriculture at the national and international market.

The Regional Director of agriculture, Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz, Mohamed Harras agricultural, regional, is a vast site totaling investments of $ 10.4 billion of DH to 2020, funded through a partnership between the State and private operators, for 141 projects.

The implementation of this strategy is to meet all challenges to the operationalization of projects, including those related to the recovery of the assets of the region and its potential, the optimization and the mobilization of resources, the development of synergies between different local actors and the promotion and consolidation of community organization.

To the small agriculture

Asked about the place of the small agriculture in the regional agricultural Plan, Mr. Harras noted that it is an essential component of this new agricultural strategy, recalling, in this sense, that the solidarity and sustainable development of agriculture remains a strategic choice of the Department, as evidenced by the II pillar of the plan, which aims to create jobsadded value and wealth in areas remote and Pocket.

Agricultural Regional Directorate of Marrakech - Tensift - Al Haouz, he said, ensures the implementation of the regional agricultural Plan, while becoming involved effectively and rationally in the niche of small agriculture and speculation local to promote small farmers and their local economic socio-systems, stating that 7 projects are in phase of realization in this area.

It is the project of integrated development of the cactus die in Rhamna province, focusing on enhancement of harvesting by the creation and equipment of seven industrial units with a capacity of 5 to 8 tons per day treatment. This project will enjoy 5.400 farmers term, also the creation of 3.800 jobs, for an amount of$ 170 million DH continued Mr. Harras.

The second project involves the integrated agricultural development and rural communes Oulad Amer, Tizmarine and Labrikiyine, within the province of Rhamna. It is the rationalization of water resources on 600 ha, intensification and extension of crops of olives, vines, vegetables, fodder and cactus and the creation of groups of breeders of sheep. An investment of 50 million DH, this project must benefit 2,500 farmers.

Other projects, he said, relate to the development of the sector of red meat in the Prefecture of Marrakech and Rhamna province, in partnership with the National Association sheepmeat and goatmeat (Anoc), the development of the olive oil sector in the province of Al Haouz (extension on 2,000 ha and 5 units of transformation), the program MCA which affects 15 perimeters in the provinces of Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Essaouira and seeks agricultural hydro (DH 110 million) equipment and arboreal intensification (DH 54 million).

Another project not less important door on supporting the emergence and the good governance of 40 Argan cooperatives in the province of Essaouira, for an investment of 19 million DH.

Labeling, a novelty

Upgrading of products, Mr. Harras held to remind that the region has a rich potential and diverse terroir products, noting that the diversity of ecosystems, coupled with centuries-old traditional practices of farmers in the region produced a wide range of products.

From an overall perspective of sustainable rural development, the Green Plan Morocco attaches great importance to the development, diversification and the promotion of the quality of local products, which are a major focus of the 'pillar II' of the GPV. Such recovery is likely to contribute to the local wealth creation, while generating jobs and by improving the incomes of the population, he said, citing for example the product "Tyout Chiadma olive oil" in the province of Essaouira has been labeled and recognized as Appellation of origin (PDO) and protected "Argane", which was recognized as a geographical Indication (GI)

For the year 2010, he proceeded to labeling of a third product of the province of Essaouira, namely the 'kid of argan tree', he continued, adding that a study will be launched shortly for the identification and implementation of a mapping of the products in the region for their development.

2010, year of agricultural projects

The year 2010 will see the implementation at the level of the region of Marrakech-Tensift-Al Haouz of 32 projects, including 18 projects in the 'pillar I' for an amount of$ 2.8 billion dirhams mostly concerning sectors of olive, citrus fruit and milk, and 12 projects in the 'pillar II' for $ 327 million of DHalso the launch of the MCA program at the level of 7 perimeters for a total of 38 million DH.

Moreover, for cross-cutting actions, the year 2010 will be the launch of the 1st instalment of 10,000 ha of conversion of irrigation gravity localized irrigation, with an investment of 420 million DH, jointly funded by the Ministry of Agriculture and marine fishery and the World Bank.

Training is not in remainder of this effort, the current year will see the launch of a project of distance education for the benefit of 3,000 rural women and 1,000 children (girls and boys) to farmers, for a total of 2.7 million DH.