Context: The oases of Aoufouss are among the most traditional date palm oases in Morocco. Date palms are the main source of income for local farmers. Production is mostly sold on the local market and a very small portion is exported due to the poor quality of the local varieties.

Objectives: To contribute to increase farmer income and to the sustainability of oasian farming systems through a qualitative and quantitative analysis of date palm genetic diversity in the oases of Aoufouss.

Outputs: The agrobiodiversity, technical itineraries, enhancing the value of the products, local know-how and gender issues are analyzed in the study. This analysis shows:

a degradation of agricultural diversity with the loss of several varieties and threats on others, due to water scarcity, plant diseases, specially Bayoud for date palms;
negative consequences on agrobiodiversity and farmer income;
enhancement of the value of products is poor because of the scarcity of conservation and processing units;
loss of the traditional know-how and exclusion of women from decision-making process and resource management.

Team members:
Name Nationality Institute Discipline
Abla BELARBI Algeria - Food production
Abdallah BOUAYAD (CP) Morocco Institut National de Recherche Agronomique du Maroc, CRRA Oujda Agroeconomy
Moustapha DIAOU Senegal Agence National de Conseil Agricole et Rural (ANCAR) Agronomy
Nadia KAASSIS Algeria Centre National d'Etudes et d'Analyses pour la Population et le Développement (CENEAP) Rural economy
Mouftaou TIDJANI MALIKI Benin ONG Groupe d'Actions de Recherches et d'Echanges pour le Développement Durable (GARED) Geography

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

Abstract: The oasis of Aoufouss is one of the most important Moroccan genetic reserves. It is classified by UNESCO as a biosphere reserve. The main activity in this zone is oasis agriculture, palm trees, olives, cereals, alfalfa, D’Man sheep and goats being the major productions.

In spite of its potential, the oasis faces several constraints such as water scarcity, serious plant diseases, specially Bayoud, land fragmentation and rural migration. These contribute to a continuous degradation of local agrobiodiversity. An interdisciplinary, participatory and systemic approach, called Agricultural Research for Development (ARD), has been used by the research team. Results are: a typology of farming systems; a review of plant and animal biodiversity and technical itineraries related to it, of farmers’ strategies in relation to biodiversity conservation, of local knowledge in products processing, of the main driving forces affecting farming systems with probable development scenarios and their influence on agrobiodiversity and sustainability. Finally, the study formulates research proposals aimed at improving farmer income, farming system sustainability and restoration of genetic diversity in the oasis.

Key words: Oasis, Aoufouss, Morocco, agrobiodiversity, farming systems, date palm tree, indigenous knowledge, gender, ARD, farmers’ strategies.

ICRA and ARD essentials:

ARD
ICRA Strategy
ARD Team Building
ARD Learning Resources
Current Partnerships

Download the full pdf report in French:
Rapport du Maroc - Errachidia, 2004 (pdf, 7711K)