«AGREE Virtual Winter School

Sustainability of AGRi-Ecological Systems

in the MENA Region
7-12 December, 2020

Case study in Morocco

Pr. Si Bennasseur Alaoui (b,alaoui@iav.ac.ma)

Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV Hassan II)

Tuesday, 12-08-2020
 Integrated Development for Poverty Alleviation and
Sustainable Development in the Mountainous region
of Agouddim (Lahri Rural Community),
Khenifra, Middle Atlas, Morocco

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 Presentation of the region

Being a mountainous region in the centre of

the Middle Atlas, the Khénifra Province is
dominated by traditional farming.
The agricultural production system is based
on the combination of cereal production and
livestock (mainly sheep & goats).
Vegetables and fruit trees are also practiced
where irrigation is possible.

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 Neglect of the Khénifra region in particular and the
mountainous regions in general by the successive
national development plans;
 Low investment of agronomic research in these regions,
adds to the many environmental limitations to efficient
and environment friendly crop production system.

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 The main constraints
Low cereal yields and low level of cropping system
diversification;
Deterioration of cultivated land, the forest, and the
environment as a whole;
Overuse of surface and ground water, during the last 5
years.
Widespread of internal parasitic diseases such as
gastrointestinal, respiratory, hydatidosis, and external
parasites;
Sheep management problems, such as nutrition and
disease control.
Family poultry suffers from diseases and low productivity;
Wispread of malnutrition among the population, and
especially youngsters;
Low rate of school attendance among kids, and especially
girls.
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 Potentialities

Abundance of manpower, mostly youngsters, within

the region;
Existence of land that is used for growing crops;
Existence of forest that is used as pasture for
animals;
Proximity to major roads;
Presence of water beneath the soil surface that can
be easily mobilized.

December 8, 2020 SB Alaoui

 IAV Hassan II - Bingham Young University, USA Project
(1999-2007)
Integrated and multidisciplinary development project focusing on
poor populations in mountainous areas

Interdisciplina Participatory
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 THE PROJECT'S OBJECTIVES
Carry research and development oriented activities aiming to
diversify and improve farmer’s income and livelihood.
Improving the well-being of the population and the fight
against insecurity

Support for the population in development income generating

OBJECTIVES

activities

Improvement of herd health and livestock productivity

Improvement of crop production and development

of alternative crops

Contribution to practical training through applied research for the benefit

of IAV Hassan II students.

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 Main research and development activities
Crop productions
• Improvement of productivity and
promotion of local products
• Alternative crops
• Promotion of medicinal plants
Human Nutrition
• Improvement of nutritional level
• Enriched Flour Tests
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Animal health and veterinary
public health
• Improvement of livestock
productivity through sanitary
management.
• Fight against major zoonoses
and contribution to the well-
being of the population (cystic
echnococcesis and rabies).
• Development of income -
generating activities (poultry
farming, rabbit farming) 10
 Participatory processes adopted

The local population was asked to select one

representative per village.
It is through these village representatives that we
communicate with villages.
All project activities were undertaken in total
partnership and according to a participatory approach
involving all stockholders, both within the three
villages and in total coordination with all the involved
institutions.

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 Actions taken for establishing a democratic and
participatory process

The project team worked with the local

population through three village
representatives.
All decisions are made by consensus.
The three village representatives are rotating
services to make sure that all households will
benefit equally from project activities.

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 Actions taken

The multidisciplinary team, composed of

agronomists, veterinarians, nutritionists, animal
scientists, agro-economists, soil scientists, were
working in close collaboration with local
population in all areas.
The team after gathering data on the constraints
was focusing its efforts on the implementation of
adequate technological solutions.
The team, after characterizing the nutrition
situation amongst population, addressed the main
problems, such as iron; and vitamin A deficiencies.
In the area of rural infrastructure, the team
worked on the renovation of the school.

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Dr. Bouslikhane supervizing annual vaccination of animal herd at the
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December 8, 2020 SB Alaoui
Dr. Bouslikhane graduate student vaccinating a sheep herd at the15
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Dr. Bouslikhane graduate student vaccinating a sheep herd at the16
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