1,721,089 research outputs found
Conditions for the adoption of conservation agriculture in central Morocco: An approach based on bayesian network modelling
No full textResearch in Central Morocco, proves that conservation agriculture increases yields, reduces labour requirements, and erosion, and improves soil fertility. However, after nearly two decades of demonstration and advocacy, adoption is still limited. This paper investigates the critical constraints and potential opportunities for the adoption of conservation agriculture for different typologies of farms. We measured the possible pathways of adoption via a Bayesian decision network (BDN). BDNs allow the inclusion of stakeholders’ knowledge where data is scant, whilst at the same time they are supported by a robust mathematical background. We first developed a conceptual map of the elements affecting the decision about tillage, which we refined in a workshop with farmers and researchers from the Settat area. We then involved experts in the elicitation of conditional probabilities tables, to quantify the cascade of causal links that determine (or not) the adoption. Via BDNs, we could categorise under which specific technical and socio-economic conditions no tillage agriculture is best suited to which farmers. We, by identifying the main constraints and running sensitivity analyses, were able to convey clear messages on how policy-makers may facilitate the conversion. As new evidence is collected, the BDN can be updated to obtain evidence more targeted and fine tuned to the adoption contexts
Ecosystem services to promote Conservation Agriculture practices in Morocco: Challenges and opportunities
No full textIn Morocco, the low-input cropping systems dominated by cereal monoculture and intensive
tillage have a marked negative impact on pressure from diseases, weeds and pests resulting in
decreased profit margins. This form of agriculture is considered to act as a major driver of
biodiversity loss and to speed up the loss of soil by increasing the mineralization of organic matter
and erosion rates. It is also causing adverse effects on major soil functions, viz. primary
productivity, carbon sequestration and regulation, nutrient cycling and provision, water
regulation and purification, and habitat for functional and intrinsic biodiversity. Conservation
agriculture (CA) is an alternative to enhance and optimize the provision of soil functions.
Conservation Agriculture practice constitutes no-till combined with residue retention and crop
rotation, CA is practiced to optimize available resources (soil, water and biological) whilst
minimizing external inputs and soil degradation. Despite reported benefits, such as improved soil
fertility, crop growth, better water infiltration, increased biological activity, decreased soil erosion
and reduced labor, machinery use and fuel costs, CA is practiced only in less than 1% of cereal
agricultural lands, well below the land areas of similar continental farming landscape
Current Status and Overview of Farm Mechanization in Morocco
No full textSince its independence, Morocco has placed the agricultural sector at the centre of its development choices in view of the important economic, social and territorial issues raised by this sector (DEPF, 2019). This is evidenced by its weight in the GDP (around 12%) and its status as a provider of jobs for a significant segment of the population (nearly 38% of the employed labour force). Agriculture is the first wealth-creating sector and the country's largest employer; it is also the main user and the most directly responsible for the management of renewable natural resources (HCP, 2020).
As a factor of production, agricultural mechanization is of paramount importance leading to improved production techniques and increased productivity of all sectors identified in the Green Morocco Plan (GMP) initiated in 2008 (MAPM -FAO. 2011). The objective of the supervisory ministry is to raise the mechanization index to 1 horse per hectare in accordance with the best international standards. According to figures from the Ministry of Agriculture, the rate of agricultural mechanization has increased from 5 tractors per 1,000 ha in 2008 to 9 tractors per 1,000 ha in 2018, exceeding the FAO standard of 5 tractors per 1,000 ha
Dissemination of conservation agriculture (CA) in wheat based system for increased productivity and product quality
No full textCurrently around 6,000 ha are under conservation agriculture (CA) in Morocco. Further to CRP DS research on CA in the action site Meknes, there is a bilateral project on CA that is mapped to CRP DS; CANA-project “Adapting Conservation Agriculture for Rapid Adoption by Smallholder Farmers in North Africa”, financed by ACIAR
In April 2015, FAO signed with ICARDA an agreement to contribute in the upscaling of certain promising technologies among which conservation agriculture. This means that the number of farmers and areas that will host CA will increase in the next cropping system
Ultra-Low Energy Drip Irrigation for MENA Countries Drip Irrigation in Morocco
No full textWhile drip irrigation has been hailed as a promising solution to Morocco’s water shortage problems, current adoption rates have been quite low, with some watersheds reporting an adoption rate as low as 10% (Jobbins et al., 2015; Kalpakian et al., 2014). Possible reasons for this have been lack of access to capital; land titles that prevent access to credit, loans and subsidies; weak presence or knowledge of relevant bureaucracies or programs; and limited scholastic education, among other reasons. Drip irrigation systems have various strengths and weaknesses from a farmer perspective, but the weaknesses seem to disproportionately affect the poor and small farmers
Conditions for the adoption of conservation agriculture in Central Morocco: an approach based on Bayesian network modelling
No full textResearch in Central Morocco, proves that conservation agriculture increases yields, reduces labour requirements, and erosion, and improves soil fertility. However, after nearly two decades of demonstration and advocacy, adoption is still limited. This paper investigates the critical constraints and potential opportunities for the adoption of conservation agriculture for different typologies of farms. We measured the possible pathways of adoption via a Bayesian decision network (BDN). BDNs allow the inclusion of stakeholders’ knowledge where data is scant, whilst at the same time they are supported by a robust mathematical background. We first developed a conceptual map of the elements affecting the decision about tillage, which we refined in a workshop with farmers and researchers from the Settat area. We then involved experts in the elicitation of conditional probabilities tables, to quantify the cascade of causal links that determine (or not) the adoption. Via BDNs, we could categorise under which specific technical and socio-economic conditions no tillage agriculture is best suited to which farmers. We, by identifying the main constraints and running sensitivity analyses, were able to convey clear messages on how policy-makers may facilitate the conversion. As new evidence is collected, the BDN can be updated to obtain evidence more targeted and fine tuned to the adoption contexts
Modélisation de la séquestration du carbone organique du sol sous différents scénarios climatiques, pratiques agricoles alternatives, et propriétés du sol par le modèle DNDC dans une région semi-aride au Maroc
No full textThesis for a doctorate degree, presented by LEMBAID Ibtissam
Conservation Agriculture combined with supplemental irrigation enhances resilience and food security in Morocco’s rainfed drylands
No full textMorocco’s rainfed drylands are highly vulnerable to recurrent drought and increasing rainfall variability, threatening wheat production and national food security. Conservation agriculture (CA) and strategic supplemental irrigation (SI) offer promising pathways to stabilize yields and improve water productivity in these fragile systems. This study evaluates the combined effects of CA and SI on grain yield, biomass production, and water productivity of wheat at ICARDA’s Merchouch research station during the 2021–2022 season under exceptionally dry growing season.
A field experiment was established with two conventional tillage systems (CT) and conservation agriculture (CA)—combined with three water regimes: rainfed (no SI), one supplemental irrigation (20 mm at tillering, 25 January), and two supplemental irrigations (20 mm at tillering + 30 mm on heading). All irrigation was applied via drip, with scheduling guided by soil moisture status, crop stress, and dry spells.
Results show that CA consistently outperformed CT across all water regimes. Under rainfed conditions, CA increased grain yield from 442 to 661 kg/ha (+49%) and water productivity from 2.04 to 3.06 kg/mm (+50%) compared with CT. With one SI, CA boosted grain yield from 845 to 1,484 kg/ha (+75%) and water productivity from 3.58 to 6.29 kg/mm (+75%). With two SI events, yields increased from 2,698 to 3,158 kg/ha (+17%) and water productivity from 10.14 to 11.87 kg/mm (+17%). Biomass and straw yields showed similar positive trends under CA, indicating improved overall system productivity.
These findings demonstrate that combining CA with modest, well-timed SI can transform vulnerable rainfed wheat into a more productive and water-efficient system. If adopted at scale on suitable dryland areas, CA+SI has strong potential to narrow Morocco’s wheat yield gap, enhance climate resilience, and reduce dependence on imported wheat, thereby contributing directly to national food security
Launch of the national no-go planting programme Measures and provisions for the crop year
No full textAs Morocco is increasingly confronted with the water deficit caused by structural drought, the adoption and deployment of adaptation approaches combining cultural techniques and practices to better value the drop of water, is an essential orientation of the Green Generation strategy. In this sense, direct sowing of cereals is one of the technological packages that has shown its effectiveness in arid and semi-arid areas. Indeed, direct sowing is a method of setting up cereals without any tillage of soil preparation before sowing. Practiced by specific seeders, the technique ensures the maintenance of soil fertility and the conservation of soil moisture. It assumes a reasoning of crop rotation. The promotion of this technology is based on the results of the research carried out. It improves soil fertility and organic matter levels, improves cereal yields by 30% on average and stabilizes them especially in dry years, reduces cereal installation costs by 60% and sowing rates by 30% and reduces soil erosion by more than 50%. It aims to improve agriculture's resilience and adaptation to climate chang
Assessment of the adoption potential of different No-Till Seeders for small-holder farmers in rainfed drylands of Morocco
No full textConservation agriculture is still an emerging technology in Morocco and until now it is limited to less than 1% of cereal-based system lands of the country. Custom hiring is very useful method of having access to agricultural machinery, especially by small and medium-sized farms. This study aimed to calculate the true economic cost of direct seeding for a service provider using different types of direct seeders available in the country. These calculations will help to determine the reasonable hiring cost of direct seeders in Morocco. Financial analysis of reconvention to direct seeding services shows that the investment in Moroccan seeder is the more profitable option for service providers and guaranties a reasonable hiring cost per hectare (24.7US$ equivalent to 210MAD) for small holders
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