The Safi region experienced very intense royal activity this weekend. The rural environment and the agricultural sector, which are at the heart of the country's proactive human development policy, were in the spotlight. His Majesty King Mohammed VI thus proceeded to the launch of structuring projects in this region. The Sovereign notably gave the kick-off for two projects within the framework of the 2013 programme for the development of local products in the province.

With their strong added values on the economic level and a significant social impact, these projects should allow for the improvement of farmers' incomes and the development of the yield of exploited agricultural land.

It must be specified that the two projects are part of the 2013 programme for the development of local products in the province concerning the beekeeping and fig sectors. The two projects of Pillar II of the Green Morocco Plan (PMV), launched Saturday in the province of Safi by HM King Mohammed VI, are "projects of the future," emphasised the Minister of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, Aziz Akhannouch. These are "very important" initiatives focusing on the development of several sectors of solidarity agriculture, which is at the heart of Pillar II of the PMV, he added. In detail, the first project relates to the development of beekeeping at the level of ten rural communes of the province. It should benefit more than 260 farmers and provides for the acquisition and distribution of 1,500 hives, the construction and equipment of a honey production unit, in addition to the technical supervision of the beneficiaries. With a total cost of 6.05 million dirhams, this project aims at the development of honey production (from 7 to 40 tonnes), the increase in farmers' income (from 1,900 to 6,200 dirhams), and the creation of permanent jobs.

The second project relates, for its part, to the development of the fig sector at the level of the rural communes of Saadla, Nagga, and Laamamra, for an investment of 16 million dirhams. The Minister of Agriculture indicated that "this fruit tree is planted on 1,000 ha in the Safi region," emphasising that "the objective is to bring this figure to more than 2,000 ha, given that it is a product appreciated by the Moroccan consumer."

Covering 2,100 hectares, this project should benefit 2,000 farmers and will consist of planting 200 hectares with fig trees. It will eventually allow for the development of the yield of exploited land (from 1.1 to 2.5 tonnes/ha), the increase in productivity which will go from 1,210 to 5,250 tonnes, and the improvement of farmers' income (from 1,670 to 7,190 DH/ha).

It should be noted that these two projects come to reinforce the various initiatives undertaken at the provincial level within the framework of Pillar II of the Green Morocco Plan, notably the development programme for the olive (2010-2014) and caper (2011-2016) sectors.

As a reminder, this programme benefits more than 7,800 farmers and provides for the planting of 4,000 ha with olive trees and 5,000 ha with caper bushes. The objective is to intensify olive production on 7,000 ha and caper production on 4,700 ha, in addition to the construction and equipment of four olive crushing units and three caper production collection centres. The actions planned under this programme are, moreover, experiencing a very advanced rate of completion.