Background: Agricultural development in the Gheris Basin, in South-East Morocco, faces severe environmental constraints. Despite some undeniable opportunities (the Eddakhil dam, unique palm date varieties and sheep breed), the region is confronted with recurring droughts, plant diseases, a high demographic pressure and land shortage. The newly established INRA's regional center (CRRA Errachidia) is still developing its research programme. The study aims at helping it better target this programme and develop a participatory research methodology to involve local stakeholders. This was the 9th study, conducted in collaboration with INRA in Morocco and the second one in Errachidia. It follows on the recommendations of the previous one and focuses on interactions between oases and pre-Saharan systems.

Objectives: Complement and finalise the CRRA’s action plan to help contribute toward economic and environmental sustainability of local farming systems. Existing interactions and complementarities between oases and rangelands will be evaluated, constraints and opportunities of local systems identified.

Outputs: The team analysed the different farm types and proposed farm typologies for both oasian and rangelands systems. The analysis shows the nature of interactions and complementarities between the systems in terms of exchange of by-products. The team presents several recommendations, among others, in the field of water and irrigation management, fertiliser use, soil preparation, crop selection and protection and preservation from genetic erosion of local sheep breed.

Team Members:
Name Nationality Institute Discipline
Mohamed Acherkouk (CP) Morocco INRA OUDJA Agro-ecology
Mohamed Boughlala Morocco INRA Settat Agro-economy
Sabah Kaci Algeria INRA Algers Animal production
Nawel Omeiri Algeria DSAA Ouargla Irrigation
Constantin Onana Cameroon IRAD Yaounde Entomoloy
Sitraka R. Rakotoson Madagaskar Forestry

Reviewer: Mr Chafik Kradi (Morocco), INRA Rabat and ICRA alumnus

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted in the Gheris Basin in Errachidia, south-east of Morocco. It aims at identifying constraints to agricultural production of different types of farms and analyse their functioning in relation to oases and sylvo-pastoral farming systems. Three sites representing different agro-ecological zones were selected: Jorf (pre-saharan plain), Goulmina (intermediary zone) and Assoul (mountain zone). A sample of 120 farmers, of whom 30 nomad herders, was studied. Constraints identified relate mainly to environmental degradation, agricultural and husbandry practices, and socio-economic issues. A typology shows two main farming systems: an extensive system in rangelands under three animal husbandry models –nomadism (Jorf), semi-nomadism and sedentary-, the other intensive in oases with three farm types by zone. Type 1 are small farms (<2 ha), with low input use and production for family needs. Type 2 has sizes ranging from 2 to 5 ha practice irrigation from the khettaras and wells. Type 3 have large sizes (>5 ha) and use inputs intensively. There are interactions between oases and sylvo-pastoral systems showing complementarities between crops and livestock and between rangelands and oases. The study has also analysed local knowledge and farmers’ strategies and practices. Recommendations were made on the basis of prioritized constraints and opportunities, together with small local community development projects.

KEY WORDS: Errachidia, Morocco, Gheris basin, farming systems, oasis.

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Download the full pdf report in French: Rapport du Maroc - Errachidia, 2003 (pdf, 1696K)