The second Strawberry Festival of Moulay Bousselham, 75 km north of Kenitra, opened on 22 March on the theme "insurance, a fundamental support for agricultural development", in the presence of several representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Morocco. The festival, organised by the Nalsya Development, Environment and Social Action Foundation, is intended, according to the president of the foundation and the festival, Abdelkrim Namane, to raise awareness among strawberry producers in the region about new methods of production, conservation, water saving, and environmental protection. The festival also aims, explains Mr Namane in a statement to the MAP, to promote the Gharb and Loukkos regions, which are major strawberry producers.
Some 3,300 hectares were cultivated with strawberries this year, which is more than 20% more than last year, comments Mr Namane. Furthermore, strawberry production, unlike other crops, did not really suffer from frost. According to Mr Namane, the yield per hectare reached 42 tonnes, which is very satisfactory given this year's climatic conditions. In addition, he added, frozen strawberries were sold for the first time at 7 DH per kg.
Addressing the festival's guests, Mr Namane praised the quality of the strawberries produced in the region, which do not use toxic products and provide work, directly and indirectly, for nearly 30,000 people, 70% of whom are women. He did, however, regret that Morocco is forced to import strawberry plants from abroad at high prices, which burdens the farmer's budget, especially, he complained, when one knows that a hectare contains between 55,000 and 60,000 plants.
The president of Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra, Abderrahmane Tenkoul, highlighted for his part the importance of agriculture in the national economy and expressed his university's willingness to contribute to strengthening the competitiveness of Moroccan products. He deemed it necessary to create a space for cooperation with associations and producers for the development of agricultural research. It should be noted that souvenir prizes were awarded to the representatives of the diplomatic missions of Egypt, Palestine, Yemen, Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, and Malaysia, as well as to farmers and associative actors, at the end of the festival's opening festivities. A visit was also organised for the event's guests, which took place at a pilot strawberry plantation in the region.
The programme for this festival, which was scheduled over three days, includes round tables led by experts to raise farmers' awareness of new water-saving and environmental preservation techniques, notably the use of a tensiometer to measure soil moisture levels. According to Mr Namane, one hectare of strawberries requires 8,300 m3 of water, and the use of a tensiometer allows for a 35% water saving. Experts from Crédit Agricole will also be brought in to explain to farmers the benefits of agricultural insurance against climatic hazards. Several fertiliser manufacturers and irrigation companies are exhibiting their products in stands set up in the open air in a large space at the entrance to the commune of Moulay Bousselham.
Moulay Bousselham is located 70 km north of Kenitra and 35 km south of Larache. The seaside locality bears the name of its saint, buried between the coast and the lagoon, and at whose tomb thousands of visitors come to pray every summer during a moussem organised by local authorities.
It is said that Moulay Bousselham came from Egypt before settling near the site known as Merja Zerga.
He died during the Battle of Oued El Makhazine in 1578 (Battle of the Three Kings). Other saints settled in the region, where there are today no fewer than seven saints scattered throughout the rural perimeter of Moulay Bousselham.Key points
-* The strawberries produced in the region do not use toxic products and provide work, directly and indirectly, for nearly 30,000 people, 70% of whom are women.
-* One hectare of strawberries requires 8,300 m3 of water.
-* The use of a tensiometer allows for a 35% water saving.
-* One hectare contains between 55,000 and 60,000 plants.
