Morocco Spends MAD 2.6 Billion on 4-Year Project to Develop Agriculture in Laayoune

 A whopping MAD 2.6 billion has been allocated for the implementation of 92 agricultural projects in the Laâyoune-Sakia El Hamra region over the period 2016-2020, according to the General Directorate of Agriculture of Laâyoune.

The investment is based on generating agricultural products with high added value, solidarity farming, and the development of water resources in the region.

Laayoune’s General Directorate of Agriculture noted that these 92 projects are divided into two sections.

The first, which comprises 49 projects, aims to develop high value-added agricultural products with the support of the local private sector, with an allocated budget of MAD 440 million, according to the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).

The second section consists of33 projects, including setting upsolidarity-based agriculture and to help small-scale breeders. The project aims to build19 units of milk, local products, and red meats production with a budget of MAD 1.4 billion.

The project also seeks to erect 292 water points for live stock watering and the establishment of irrigation circles dedicated to forage production on a surface of 125 hectares.

As part of this investment, 30 livestock watering points were created in 2016, while a 90-hectare hydro-irrigation facility was installed in the province of Tarfaya during the same year.

MAD 840 million will be invested in 10 projects for the development of agricultural land.

To ensure agricultural development in the region, available ground water will be mobilizedin order to enhance water through an irrigated value-added crop.

It also provides for the creation of jobs for the benefit of the local population in order to contribute to the sustainable development of resources in the region

source:MoroccoWorldNews