Technical Progress Report Enhancing Innovation and Technology Dissemination for Sustainable Agricultural Productivity in Arab Countries

Abstract

In Morocco, the AFESD project was an all out success, with many technologies demonstrated to farmers and showing outstanding performances despite very dry seasons. Training of farmers in seed enterprises is now ensuring production of food legumes in areas that did not have access to them before. An in depth review of the seed system of Morocco brought together all the highest level decision maker as part of the Alliance of Stakeholders that really brought out the major shortfalls and is guiding the seed research for the next decade under the Generation Green Plan. The product profiles have been refined and confirmed with all stakeholders and are now ready for delivering (see BRED MOD). The Conservation Agriculture studies presented have convinced the Ministry of Agriculture to commit to achieve 1.5 Million hectares of this practice in the next decade. The first action has been to support the purchase of locally made zero till planters with 50% subsidies. The research has demonstrated that several varieties suitable for zero till are available from ICARDA and should hence be promoted.