The Minister of Agriculture, Marine Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, Ahmed El Bouari, on Tuesday launched several solidarity agriculture projects aimed at enhancing agricultural resilience in the Bouchane commune, part of the Rehamna province. These initiatives form part of the public authorities’ efforts to rebuild the national livestock and develop agroforestry in the face of ongoing climate change effects on agricultural production systems.
Accompanied by the Governor of Rehamna, Aziz Bouignane, as well as regional agricultural officials and local elected representatives, the minister presided over the launch of a solidarity agriculture project focused on livestock, with a budget of 55.16 million dirhams. This project benefits over 3,000 breeders in the province and aims to sustainably strengthen animal production capacities.
The program includes the distribution of 4,160 Sardinian sheep, the establishment of 21 hydroponic barley production units, the improvement of grazing areas over 500 hectares, and the creation of 25 drinking water points for livestock. These actions are supplemented by training and support programs for breeders to enhance breeding practices and resource management.
This project is part of a broader regional initiative comprising fifteen projects dedicated to livestock restoration, mobilizing a total budget of more than 160 million dirhams for over 10,150 breeders. On this occasion, Ahmed El Bouari also presided over the signing of agreements for the distribution of agricultural and livestock equipment, as well as direct seeders, before handing over tractors, water tanks, and agricultural equipment to several benefiting cooperatives.
In the same context, the minister oversaw the distribution of breeding sheep, livestock equipment, and direct seeders to service cooperatives, aiming to enhance the technical and productive capacities of local farms.
Additionally, in the Bouchane commune, Ahmed El Bouari kicked off the first phase of a 500-hectare agroforestry development project. This operation focuses on establishing associated crops suited to local conditions, particularly cactus and Atriplex, to diversify forage resources and preserve animal capital.
This agroforestry project is part of a larger provincial program, which plans for the realization of 5,000 hectares in Rehamna. With a budget of 80 million dirhams, it is expected to benefit more than 1,000 small farmers and aims to enhance the resilience of farms against climatic variations while sustainably improving agricultural incomes.
In a statement to MAP, the Regional Director of Agriculture for Marrakech-Safi, Samira Hadraoui, emphasized that these projects align with the national livestock restoration program and contribute to livestock development while reinforcing the agricultural development dynamics in the region. She noted that the regional program includes fifteen projects with an overall budget estimated at 160 million dirhams, benefiting more than 10,000 farmers.
At the level of the Marrakech-Safi region, solidarity agriculture projects serve as a central lever for reviving agricultural production systems and strengthening their resilience to climate change. By 2030, regional objectives include implementing 130 projects benefiting around 130,000 individuals, with an estimated budget of 2.36 billion dirhams.
In Rehamna province, the solidarity agriculture initiative currently encompasses 23 projects, representing a total investment of 480 million dirhams and benefiting nearly 19,000 farmers, reflecting the strategic importance placed on this area in agricultural and rural development policies.