The minister, who was accompanied in particular by the wali of the Marrakech-Safi region, Karim Kassi-Lahlou, the governor of the Chichaoua province, Bouabid El Guerrab, the vice-president of the Regional Council, the vice-president of the Marrakech-Safi Chamber of Agriculture, deputies, as well as officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, visited several municipalities, an opportunity to visit and launch many projects and programs included in the framework of the “Green Generation 2020-2030” Strategy.
Thus, in the territorial commune of Loudaya under the prefecture of Marrakech, Mr. Sadiki visited a citrus packaging station built as part of the new “Green Generation” Strategy.
Built on a total surface area of 45,000 m2, including 15,000 m2 covered, this unit has a packaging capacity of 25,000 T/year and should eventually reach 45,000 T/year.
With a total cost of 110 million DH, this project will allow the aggregation of 50 citrus producers, the creation of 50,000 working days per year, and the strengthening of the capacity of the Marrakech-Safi region in terms of the valorization of citrus fruits.
Citrus cultivation covers an area of 16,350 ha and ensures a production in a normal year of 320,000 T, of which nearly 96,000 T are intended for export.
Previously, explanations were provided to the minister and the delegation accompanying him on the implementation of the Regional Agricultural Plan (PAR) “Green Generation” Strategy at the level of the prefecture of Marrakech.
Subsequently, Mr. Sadiki and the delegation accompanying him went to the territorial commune of Ichamraren in the province of Chichaoua, where he launched work on the first phase of the carob plantation project on 300 ha.
This is a “new generation” solidarity agriculture project which involves several components, mainly the planting of 500 ha of carob trees, 500 ha of cacti, 200 ha of fodder shrubs (Atriplex), in addition to the development of beekeeping (distribution of 200 beehives).
This project also provides for the creation of a service cooperative for the benefit of rural youth, the establishment of income-generating activities for rural women and the development of 7 km of seguias.
With a total cost of nearly 26 million DH, this project will contribute to the improvement and diversification of the income of more than 500 beneficiaries and the creation of approximately 120,000 working days per year.
Previously, the minister and the delegation accompanying him learned about the main axes of the Regional Agricultural Plan “Green Generation Strategy” at the level of the province of Chichaoua.
Subsequently, the minister went to the territorial municipality of Irohalen, where he took the opportunity to learn about the progress of major rural road construction projects launched as part of the Territorial and Social Disparities Reduction Program.
On this occasion, Mr. Sadiki visited a rural road linking the headquarters of the commune to the douar Tamaroute over a length of 9.8 km and serving 7 douars, with a total cost of 11.82 million DH.
Explanations were also provided to Mr. Sadiki and the delegation accompanying him on two other road projects scheduled for 2023. These are the road linking Douar Tamaroute to Douar Ouanzid over a length of 19.1 km, for a total amount of 27 million DH, and the one linking the commune of Irohalen and the commune of Afellaissen over a length of 7 km, for a total cost of 6 million DH.
The Program for the Reduction of Territorial and Social Disparities in the Province of Chichaoua benefited from a total budget of 783 million DH between 2017 and 2023.
Concerning the roads component, the achievements mainly concerned the construction of 297 km and the rehabilitation of 105 km.
In the territorial commune of Oued El Bour (province of Chichaoua), the minister proceeded, within the framework of the program of development of the rangelands, to the launch of the works of planting of fodder shrubs (Atriplex) on an area of 50 ha.
He also kicked off work on digging a water point equipped with solar pumping, intended for watering livestock as part of the Rainfall Deficit Impact Reduction Program.
The overall program for the development of rangelands in the province of Chichaoua is divided into several components, namely: the planting of Atriplex on 3,400 ha, the improvement of productivity on 1,700 ha and the creation of 10 water points, for a total investment of nearly 30 million DH, for the benefit of 4,000 beneficiaries.
Among the achievements of the program to reduce the impact of rainfall deficit in the province of Chichaoua, are the distribution of 115,500 qx of barley and 11,900 qx of compound feed, the ongoing construction of 9 water points for watering livestock, the development of 6.8 km of seguias and the supplementary irrigation of 200 ha of young plantations carried out within the framework of solidarity agriculture projects. The budget allocated to this program amounts to 51.5 million DH.
In a statement to the press at the end of these field visits, Mr. Sadiki indicated that this trip to the prefecture of Marrakech and the province of Chichaoua was an opportunity to monitor and launch a number of projects, as part of the implementation of the “Green Generation” Strategy in these areas. A Strategy launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in 2020, with the aim of developing and structuring the agricultural sector, the minister recalled.
And to continue that at the level of the prefecture of Marrakech, the visit concerned a citrus packaging unit, with a budget of around 110 million DH and which meets the most demanding standards in this area.
“In the province of Chichaoua, the visit was an opportunity to launch a number of adapted crop projects (carob trees, cactus, fodder shrubs, etc.), in addition to launching the road programme and opening circuits intended to open up areas, with also an emphasis on the promotion of local products and support for cooperatives,” he explained, highlighting the importance also given to the preservation of water resources and their promotion, in order to achieve high agricultural production with low water consumption, particularly with regard to small and medium irrigation.
2024-09-12 13:00:24