This new project, which reinforces the various agricultural initiatives undertaken in the Oriental region and gives a strong impetus to the Green Morocco Plan, consists of the hydro-agricultural development of 1,330 ha, the planting of olive trees over an area of 665 ha, the allocation of 665 hectares to market gardening crops, as well as the training and technical support of farmers. Mobilising investments of around 293 million dirhams, this project, which will be carried out within a period of 48 months, should benefit more than 520 farmers and ensure, in the long term, an annual production of 5,300 tonnes of olives and 31,500 tonnes of market gardening, an improvement in farmers' incomes, and the creation of 430 jobs. This large-scale project is also part of the implementation of the national irrigation water saving programme at the level of the Melouya irrigated perimeter, which involves the conversion of traditional gravity or sprinkler irrigation systems into localised drip irrigation systems, over an area of 37,000 hectares. Endowed with a budget of 2 billion dirhams, this programme will make it possible to save, by 2020, nearly 62 million m3 of irrigation water, just as it will contribute to a qualitative and quantitative improvement of agricultural production in the region. This programme has allowed, until the end of May 2013, the equipment of 18,000 ha with a localised drip irrigation system, with an investment of nearly 972 million dirhams. These various initiatives are in line with the efforts deployed for an optimal implementation of the "Green Morocco" Plan, a programme that has proven itself since its launch insofar as it has contributed to the improvement of the incomes of thousands of farmers, the promotion of their living conditions, the development of high-performance agriculture adapted to market rules, as well as the strengthening of solidarity-based agriculture. They also reinforce the Royal Initiative for the development of the Oriental, which sets as objectives the promotion of the assets available to the region, the valorisation of its highly prized agricultural product, and the improvement of its competitiveness, notably through an effort of modernisation and development of production sectors.

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