At the level of the territorial commune of Zouada, Mr. Sadiki, who was accompanied by the Wali of the Tangier-Tetouan Al Hoceima region, the governor of the province of Larache, the president of the region, the president of the Regional Chamber of Agriculture, professionals from the sector and elected officials, as well as a large delegation of ministry officials, presided over the launch of construction work on this Qualipôle, installed on an area of 2 ha for a total cost of 97.80 million dirhams (MDH).
The “Qualipôle alimentation” aims to provide local support to producers to improve the quality of their products and provide analysis and control services to access markets in the best conditions.
It will house the laboratories of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA), the National Institute for Agronomic Research (INRA) and Morocco Foodexv, as well as the Regional Center for Young Agricultural Entrepreneurs (CRJEA) and common areas.
In a statement to the press, Mr. Sadiki stressed that the construction work on the Qualipôle Alimentation has begun within the Agropole du Loukkos, which will bring together all the services of the Ministry of Agriculture, in order to bring the services closer to investors and create a “cluster” capable of ensuring the federation of the efforts of all stakeholders, with a view to increasing the rate of valorization of agricultural products.
The minister affirmed that the Loukkos Agropole is a structuring project for the production sectors, and aims to increase the rate of valorization of agricultural products from 35% to around 80%, noting that this will make it possible to “structure the production sectors and maintain added value at the regional level, in order to contribute to local economic and social development and job creation.”
He recalled that the Loukkkos Agropole project covers an area of 150 hectares, the first phase of which covers 50 ha, noting that the plots of land in this phase have almost all been sold to investors who want to settle in the Agropole.
For his part, the chairman of the board of directors of MedZ, a subsidiary of the Caisse de dépôt et de gestion (CDG), Mohssine Semmar, affirmed that the construction of the Agropole du Loukkos is taking place in accordance with the conditions of international competitiveness, noting that the work has reached an advanced stage and that the delivery of the first phase, on an area of 50 ha, is planned for next July.
Mr. Semmar stressed that investment projects within the Agropole are being studied, with a view to enabling investors to launch technical studies and begin the installation of their units, after the delivery of the first tranche, noting that around 30 investors have expressed their interest in settling in this tranche, which should generate a total investment of nearly 1.15 billion dirhams (MMDH) and create more than 3,800 jobs.
He said that the Loukkos Agropole, which is the result of the partnership between ministerial sectors, the regional council, Crédit Agricole Maroc (CAM) and the MedZ company, represents “a structuring project for the province and the region, which will contribute to promoting economic and social dynamics and strengthening the influence of the region”.
It should be noted that the Agropole is made up of four areas, namely the “Food Industries Area” dedicated to industrial activities, related industries, transport, storage and showrooms, the “Technology Pole” made up of an entrepreneurship incubator, training institutes and an innovation center, the “Service Pole” comprising service and operating facilities and the “Food Qualipôle”.
The Loukkos Agropole will improve the valorization and processing of agricultural products in the region. It offers real added value for the region, with a turnover of nearly 4 billion dirhams per year and constitutes an important lever for employment through the creation of more than 12,000 jobs.
At the Loukoss perimeter, the visit concerned fields of production and harvest of potatoes serving the supply of the local market.
The Loukkos area has significant potential in terms of irrigated agricultural land with an area exceeding 45,000 ha, in addition to significant water resources and modern hydro-agricultural equipment.
Loukkos is also characterized by climatic conditions favorable to the development of different crops, including market gardening, red fruits, fodder crops and fruit trees.
Market gardening represents a significant part of the annual crop programme. The planned area for autumn and winter market gardening amounts to approximately 16,000 ha.
Regarding the achievements of the different species, they have seen a significant evolution compared to previous campaigns, with an achievement rate of 114% over an area of 18,170 ha.
Potatoes represent 50% of the total area dedicated to market gardening, of which 36% is reserved for seasonal potatoes with an area of more than 6,500 ha and a forecast production of more than 286,000 tonnes.
Note that the potato harvest operation began during the third week of March and will continue over the following three months with a peak harvest in April.
As for the spring market gardening program, it will occupy an area of 7,900 ha, entirely irrigated with a forecast production of more than 300,000 T, while the National Irrigation Water Saving Program, which aims at collective reconversion into a localized irrigation system at the Loukkos level, is carried out in two phases over an area of 23,000 ha.
2024-09-11 01:02:36