This start-up took place from a 60-hectare farm, conducted with a fully mechanized technical route and the use of cutting-edge technologies such as drones, indicates a press release from the Regional Directorate of Agriculture of Rabat-Salé-Kénitra .
This kick-off was given by the governor of the province of Sidi Kacem, El Habib Nadir, in the presence of the president of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER), Rachid Benali, and the director general of Cosumar Group, Hassan Mounir.
Also present were the president of the Chamber of Agriculture of the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region, Mohammed El Bouyahyaoui, the regional director of Agriculture, Mahjoub Lahrache, local officials and farmers in the region.
The Gharb perimeter expects a production of 276,000 T on a harvestable area of 5,180 Ha, even if the sown area was 5,560 Ha, specifies the press release.
“The expected yield this campaign would be 53 T/Ha compared to 51.5 T/Ha recorded during the previous campaign, which represents an increase of 3%. A peak yield of 75 T/Ha is expected at certain farms “, we add.
The 2023-2024 agricultural campaign was marked by State support for fertilizer prices as part of the Program to reduce the impact of the rainfall deficit to mitigate the increase in production costs: 240 DH/Qx for ammonitrate 33%, 330 DH/Qx for urea 46% and 422 DH/Qx for basic fertilizers, recalls the same source.
A second major measure was taken, namely the increase in the selling price of 80 DH per tonne delivered, explains the Regional Directorate, adding that this considerable support granted to sugar beet contributes to the increase in farmers’ income while improving the competitiveness and profitability of this crop.
Furthermore, the Gharb Regional Agricultural Development Office has undertaken a set of measures to guarantee the security of irrigation water during this campaign which was marked by a water deficit which has become major, a scarcity and a irregularity of precipitation, as well as a significant decrease in water reserves in dams and low groundwater levels, the statement concludes.