Compromised this year, the agricultural campaign in the Safi province was at the centre of the debates of the provincial technical committee (CTP) which met recently under the chairmanship of the wali of the region, in the presence of the authorities in charge of the sector. During a presentation made on the occasion, the DPA (provincial director of agriculture), Mustapha Ladnani, painted a picture of the current situation of the sector in the province and exposed the measures taken to mitigate the harmful effects of the drought.
The Safi province has been affected by insufficient rainfall. Indeed, the volume of rain recorded on April 12 was 202.6 mm, which is 60% less than that of the same period in 2011. The deficit negatively impacted the state of cereal crops and that of pastoral ranges. It also prejudiced the overall sown area, particularly spring crops, notably maize and early vegetables, including open-field market gardening crops. The reduction noted in this context is 8% compared to the area sown during the previous campaign (219,839 ha against 238,252 ha in 2010-2011). Indeed, the lack of rain and the sharp drop in temperature recorded are two factors which, according to the DPA, have strongly hindered the normal evolution of the vegetative state of the crops, particularly in certain interior zones where cereal crops have suffered serious damage. In fact, only the state of 1% of these crops is considered good, the rest, i.e., 30%, are considered average, 49% weak, and 20% totally damaged.
The state of pastoral ranges, relatively regenerated after the last rainfall, is considered on the other hand as average in coastal zones and weak in the interior plains and plateaus. Concerning the measures recommended to mitigate the effects of the drought at the level of the authority falling under the competence of the DPA of Safi, it is appropriate to specify first the setting up at the end of 2011 of an emergency programme aimed at subsidising compound feed for the benefit of farmers in the Youssoufia province. The development of this programme aims to fix the prices of these foods at a limit of 220 dirhams per quintal, with the State taking charge of transport costs from supply centres to the various points of sale. The quantity then submitted for marketing in this context was 166,000 quintals.
As for Safi, it should be noted that an initial budget allocation of 9 million dirhams, necessary for the acquisition of subsidised fodder intended for the formal sector only (associations and cooperatives), has already been allocated. A negotiated contract has already been concluded, given the pressing urgency required by the support to be provided to farmers and breeders. Regarding the acquisition of subsidised barley, it should however be noted that the supervisory ministry has already granted an allocation of 25,000 quintals intended notably for small farmers in the province. The preparation of the lists is in the process of being finalised by the local committees set up.
In short, after a rich debate, the DPA also provided answers to many questions asked in the form of recommendations and generally relating to the increase of the initial allocation intended to subsidise fodder, the support and aid to be provided to small farmers, the preservation of livestock, the opening of worksites in rural areas with a view to creating work opportunities in order to avoid the phenomenon of exodus to cities. It was also a question of alleviating the indebtedness of farmers, of supplying drinking water to certain rural communes, like those of M'Rasla, Sidi Tijji, and Khémis N'Ga, where populations continue to consume water stored in what are called "matfia" or "mtafis".
Another grievance issued was that of the reopening of certain wells hitherto closed with the wish to see them equipped with pumping means and exploited by populations suffering from shortages or the scarcity of water.
The wali of the region also welcomed the nature of the debate, highlighting the policy adopted by our country which opted after independence for the dam policy, at a time when neighbouring countries had embarked on the path of industrialisation. He recalled the launch of the Green Morocco Plan and the need to boost it so that it directly benefits farmers. Moreover, awareness and consciousness regarding this programme should encourage farmers and all stakeholders to adhere to it massively and positively.
This situation did not fail to have consequences on the prices of fodder which, let us remember, have climbed subsequently, going from 30 to 35 dirhams for a bale of straw, from 5.2 to 5.5 dirhams for a kilo of barley, then from 3 to 3.3 dirhams for a kilo of bran, from 3.2 to 3.5 DH/kg for pulp (beet) and from 2.8 to 3.2 DH/kg for compound feed. All these fodders are, according to the DPA, currently available on the local market, but at relatively high prices in comparison with those practised during the previous campaign. This increase varies between 18 and 44%.
