The official opening ceremony of this event, which took place in the presence of the Wali of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, Mohamed Najem Abhay, heads of external services, and elected officials, was marked by the opening of an exhibition held on an area of one thousand square metres, featuring a pavilion for local agricultural products and a pavilion for traditional handicraft products.
The local agricultural products pavilion features the participation of about 75 cooperatives representing the provinces of the Guelmim-Oued Noun region (Guelmim, Sidi Ifni, Assa-Zag, Tan-Tan), as well as other cities from several regions, including in particular Souss-Massa, Drâa-Tafilalet, and Fez-Meknes, which are showcasing several products including honey, Argan oil and its derivatives, "Amlou", various types of couscous, and medicinal and aromatic plants.
As for the traditional handicraft products pavilion, it displays a range of handmade and artisanal items such as metalwork, silver jewellery, traditional jewellery, modern tailoring, carpet weaving, traditional leatherwork, leather goods, traditional clothing tailoring, and Sahrawi attire.
The activities of the seventh edition of the festival, organised by the Shadows of the Argan Tree Association for Development and Human Solidarity until December 14, began yesterday with the organisation of various activities, including in particular the signing of literary works, and recreational and sports activities.
The President of the Shadows of the Argan Tree Association for Development and Human Solidarity, Boubaker Oungir, confirmed in a statement to the Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP) agency that the festival aims to provide an economic, social, and environmental outlet for the region, to introduce its rich and diverse local heritage, to value the Argan tree and restore consideration for this cultural and civilisational heritage, as well as to support and pay attention to cooperatives and women working in the Argan sector, noting that this year's edition is rich and diverse, including cultural and artistic aspects.
The activities of this event continue with the organisation of a study day on "Climate change and the challenge of Argan tree sustainability", artistic segments by local heritage groups, as well as an evening of Amazigh and Hassani poetry, in addition to an artistic evening.
The festival's segments will conclude with the organisation of a seminar on "Women's economic empowerment as a pillar for local development", a study day on the topic of "Civil society and territorial communes.. what partnership for protecting the Argan tree ecosystem", as well as an artistic evening.
This event seeks, according to the organisers, to introduce the rich and diverse local heritage of the region and the cultural and environmental qualifications it possesses, to value the Argan tree, which constitutes the pole of the social and solidarity economy in the Guelmim-Oued Noun region, as well as to support workers in the Argan sector in the region and enhance the capabilities of cooperatives and professional organisations working in the sector and accompany them.
