The Cadi Ayyad University of Marrakech and the Tiwizi association have just received an innovative technological equipment: a **solar parabolic dome**, donated by the **Thai International Cooperation Agency (TICA)**. This donation is part of a Moroccan-Thai partnership for sustainable community development, aimed at promoting ecological agricultural solutions in rural areas.
### A Simple Technology for Drying Fruits
The result of research from Silpakorn University in Thailand, this device uses **solar energy to dry agricultural products** such as **dates, apricots, or plums**, in controlled and hygienic conditions. It provides a modern alternative to traditional drying methods, which are often rudimentary and exposed to health risks.
### A Ceremony with High Symbolic Significance
The official handover took place in Marrakech in the presence of several dignitaries, including **Chulvat Narinthrangura**, the general director of TICA, **Mohamed Hafidi**, vice president of Cadi Ayyad University, and **Fabio Chinda**, the Thai ambassador to Rabat. The president of the Tiwizi association, **Hassan Edderjoun**, as well as Thai researchers, were also present.
This initiative is the result of a long cooperation process that began in 2017, following an international conference in Japan on sustainable agriculture. Despite delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2023 earthquake, the project was successfully completed thanks to constant coordination among partners.
### An Example of South-South Cooperation
The equipment will be used by the Tiwizi association to support small producers in the Marrakech region. It will also serve as a **reproducible prototype** in other rural areas of Morocco.
This action illustrates effective and pragmatic South-South cooperation. It aligns with the **United Nations Sustainable Development Goals**, particularly those related to **food security**, **clean energy**, and **climate resilience of rural communities**.
The Thai ambassador praised a “fair cooperation based on concrete solutions to the needs of local populations,” while Moroccan partners emphasized the importance of a project based on **perseverance and adaptation to the realities on the ground**.
This solar dome is not just a technical tool: it symbolizes a new model of partnership for sustainable agriculture, on a human scale.