The Minister of Agriculture proceeded on Tuesday to the launch of the irrigation operation of the Bouhouda perimeter by a water-efficient system as well as a project of aggregation of aromatic and medicinal plants at the level of the province of Taounate.
A range of agricultural development projects were launched on Tuesday in the Fez-Meknes region. Mohamed Sadiki, Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, kicked off the irrigation operation of the Bouhouda perimeter in the territorial commune of Ain Aicha using a water-efficient system. water. With a total cost of 420 million dirhams, this project covers an area of 1,850 hectares and benefits 1,480 beneficiaries. It covers the four territorial communes Ain Aicha, Ain Madiouna, Rghioua and Taounate under the province of Taounate. “The development and equipment of this perimeter are continuing as part of the new Generation Green 2020-2030 strategy. Its objective is to increase agricultural production, to make use of water resources by equipping farms with drips, and to improve farmers’ incomes,” explains the Department of Agriculture. And to specify that “the Bouhouda dam, on Oued Sra, has a total retention capacity of 55 million m3, with an annual volume reserved for agriculture which amounts to 15 million m3. The management of the perimeter is entrusted to associations of agricultural water users”. Mr. Sadiki also visited a farm producing aromatic and medicinal plants (PAM) in the same area.
This infrastructure is part of a project for the aggregation of aromatic and medicinal plants grown around a processing and packaging unit. With an overall investment of 70 million dirhams, this aggregation project covers an area of 113 hectares. Its objective is to support farmers in the Fez-Meknes region to improve the quality and quantities of MAP production in compliance with standards and the environment. “It has created 60 permanent jobs and more than 500 seasonal jobs in the province of Taounate,” said the Department of Agriculture. It should be noted that as part of his visit to the province of Taounate, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests presided over the inauguration of the new headquarters of the Provincial Directorate of Agriculture of Taounate and the provincial branch of the Regional Chamber of Agriculture which brings together the services of the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) and the services of the National Office of Agricultural Advice (ONCA) .
With a total cost of more than 15.7 million dirhams, the building has three levels and is built on an area of 2,535 m2.