The curtain has fallen on the National Professional Fair for the Development of Livestock in Doukkala-Abda (FNDEDA), which was held from 8 to 11 November 2014 in Touilaâte, located in the rural commune of El Machrek, 10 km from Sidi Bennour, on the theme "Animal production: achievements and development prospects within the framework of the Green Morocco Plan". Placed under the aegis of the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, this important agricultural event in the Doukkala-Abda region was organised by the Regional Directorate of Agriculture of Doukkala-Abda in collaboration with the province of Sidi Bennour, the Regional Office for Agricultural Development of Doukkala, the Regional Chamber of Agriculture of Doukkala-Abda, and the Provincial Association for the Organisation of Agricultural Fairs of Sidi Bennour. The 15,000 m² exhibition area, dedicated to the promotion of the livestock sector and related activities, brought together six hubs (livestock, institutional, services, agricultural and livestock equipment, agricultural supplies and irrigation equipment, and agro-industry).

The Fair welcomed 200 exhibitors (animals, livestock, service providers, distributors, manufacturers, importers, and breeders) and approximately 50,000 visitors. The programme included the signing of agreements related to the development of the livestock sector as well as thematic conferences on livestock led by specialists in the field, livestock competitions for cattle (dairy and meat breeds) and sheep, and the auctioning of animals. The closing ceremony ended with the distribution of several prizes.

According to the organisers, this agricultural event was an opportunity to communicate on the very honourable position that the Doukkala-Abda region occupies at the national level.

With 420,000 head of cattle and 1.7 million head of sheep, the region produces 450 million litres of milk per year, with a 22% share in national milk production, and 53,000 tonnes of red meat per year, allowing it to contribute 18% to national red meat production. Furthermore, the inauguration of the National Professional Fair for the Development of Livestock in Doukkala-Abda was presided over by Mohamed Moubdii, Minister Delegate to the Head of Government, in charge of Civil Service and Administration Modernisation, and Mohammed Sadiki, Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, in the presence of Abdelfettah Labjioui, Wali of the Doukkala-Abda region, Mustapha Draiss, Governor of the Sidi Bennour province, and several civil and military personalities.

Priorities of the Regional Agricultural Plan

The two sectors of milk and red meat are at the heart of the Doukkala-Abda Regional Agricultural Plan, which plans, through the implementation of development projects for the two sectors within the framework of the Green Morocco Plan, to triple regional milk production, generalise artificial insemination and the cattle identification operation, introduce new, more productive dairy and meat cattle breeds, create modern slaughterhouses for the valorisation of red meat production, and create new units for the production of livestock feed.