The Caravan started in Meknes, specifically in Boufekrane, and is continuing over 45 days, visiting 11 other regions. The aim of the tour is to meet small Moroccan farmers to help them better understand the specificities and needs of their crops and soil, to assist them in the reasoned use of fertilisers in appropriate quality and quantity, and to modernise national agriculture, in line with the main objectives of the Green Morocco Plan. The 2012 OCP Cereal Caravan has therefore arrived in the rural commune of Beni Bataou (Bejaad circle, Khouribga province), as part of a programme that previously covered Meknes, Ait Jemaa, Tlat Bouguedra, Zemamra, Berrechid, Settat and Beni Mellal. After this ninth stage, it will travel to Rass Tabouda, Rommani and Had Kourt. Significant human and material resources have been mobilised to answer all the farmers' questions through a soil analysis laboratory and an IT platform housing the fertility map database, in the presence, of course, of a whole team of agronomic experts. This event was attended by the governor of the province, Abdellatif Chadali, accompanied by representatives of the OCP Group, the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, fertiliser distributors and elected officials. It recorded the participation of more than 200 farmers representing the 21 rural communes of the province. In his speech, the provincial governor welcomed the successful visit of the "2012 OCP Cereal Caravan" which, he stressed, will encourage farmers to mobilise even more and to better understand the nature and qualities of their land and, of course, the products that are suitable for achieving better yields. Then, Housseine El Korno, representative of the OCP Group in charge of the programme, for his part assured the farmers of the establishment's commitment to supervise them closely, raise their awareness and present them with quality products. Thus, the 2012 OCP Cereal Caravan remains an important basis for the development of the agricultural sector in the Kingdom and is part of the Green Morocco Plan. It is a new, effective and scientific formula that allows the farmer to discover fertilisers developed by the OCP group while taking into account the characteristics of the different regions of the Kingdom. Similarly, the experts on site explained to the farmers the objectives of the fertility map adapted to all categories of soil to make them productive. The event was also characterised by presentations and screenings related to the usefulness of fertilisers and how to work the soil. There were also stands where the regional establishment of the Credit Agricole of Beni Mellal and fertiliser distributors presented products to support farmers and encourage them to work their soil in excellent conditions.
-* Each stage of the circuit will see the participation of more than 250 farmers. To achieve the objectives, significant human and technical resources are mobilised:
-* A mobile soil analysis laboratory and an IT platform housing the fertility map database, with an area of 70 m².
-* 12 OCP villages with an area of 2,400 m².
-* 3,000 small farmers invited and made aware.
-* 8 OCP distributors involved.
-* 240 soil samples analysed.
-* 20 agronomic experts mobilised.
-* 48 plots (with an area of approximately 2 hectares each) supported until harvest. The owners of these plots will be monitored throughout the agricultural season by agronomists.
-* 8 educational outreach films produced.
-* 25 vehicles mobilised.
