CGIAR Research Program on Dryland Systems - DS

Overview: NAWA-AS006 - Saiss (Morocco)

NAWA-AS005 - NAWA-AS007


Leader Mohammed Karrou, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas - ICARDA
Coleader: Rachid Mrabet, National Institute of Agronomic Research Morocco - INRA Morocco

Team members: 27
Partner organizations: 5

Budget 2026
USD : 0

Activities/Products:  9


  Description
    
The action site of Meknes-Sais selected in Morocco to conduct CRP Dryland System research activities is located in the North of the country. The site covers an area of about 1694 km2. The objective of the program is a sustainable intensification of the main production systems (wheat-based system, fruit trees-based system and vegetables-based system). One innovation platform (IP) is in the process of being established and will, through three separate areas of focus, represent the different production systems within the communities of Sidi Slimane Moul Kifane, Ain Jamaa and Bitit. Morocco provides a unique environment for testing an innovations systems approach within the NAWA portfolio of action sites, given the implementation of an ambitious state led programme for modernization of the agricultural sector, together with a parallel programme for poverty reduction through directed social and economic organization of farming communities. Through the Morocco Green Plan, significant incentives are being provided by the state towards the formation of agricultural production and marketing cooperatives. In conjunction with an ongoing reform of farm advisory services, this bodes well for testing more contemporary (inclusive) approaches for agricultural innovation; however, administrative complications coupled with farmer mistrust of previous state led cooperatives and claims of mismanagement have thus far led to mixed results in the functioning of newly formed cooperatives. Initial work in participatorily defining entry points for an innovation platform have signaled significant interest from public agencies, local governments, national research institutes, civil society, private traders, and most importantly, farmers (men and women) in the testing of more contemporary forms of social and economic organization that may lead to more effective development of, and access to, agricultural research outputs. Yet, historical cooperatives continue to function, particularly in the area of irrigation water management. Inclusion of these cooperatives into an innovation platform is critical, given power dynamics at the level of community, but has proven to be problematic in terms of reaching agreement on a clearly defined entry point for an innovation platform to be struck, and given perceived threats to the functioning of existing cooperatives. In Sidi Slimane, the number of villages is 20, the total population is 11,627.00, the number of farmers is 988 and the small farm size (less than 5 ha) represents 79.7%. Although agriculture (crop and cattle productions) remains the main activity in this location, the main source of livelihood is migration to the cities and outside the country. In Ain Jamaa, the number of villages is 22, the total population is 19,300.00 and the number of farmers is 2100. The small farm size (less than 5 ha) represents 64% of the total and the main source of livelihood is agriculture (crops, small ruminants and cattle productions). In Bitit, the number of villages is 8, the total population is 10,552.00 and the number of farmers is 1047. In this location, agriculture (crops and cattle productions) is the main source of living; but at least 15% of farmers have an extra source of income (migration to the cities and abroad). The number of households currently involved in CRP DS activities is around 30 in each IP and the potential (targeted) out-scaling number in the IPs can reach 80 to 100% in long term (10 years). The rainy season of the action site is October-May and the annual average is 550 mm in Sidi Slimane and Ain Jamaa and 500 mm in Bitit. This last site has a high potential for irrigation. Among the challenges for the population is to increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods in a region characterized by historically low State investment in Agriculture, the increase of drought and water scarcity (except Bitit region) and limited access to the market. The challenge for research is to construct production systems that allow the increase and sustainability of agricultural production in the context of drought, water scarcity and global change (food and climate). This requires a multi-disciplinary and integrated work and the involvement of farmers and extension services in the program to ensure the dissemination and out-scaling of the developed technologies/tools and of the policymakers to launch and implement alternative policies of natural resources management and agricultural production.
  Atlas
    
  Activities/Products
    
Code Activity/Product Name Leader Co-leader Total Outputs Output types View
NAWA-AS006.001 Dissemination of conservation agriculture Hichem Ben Salem Harun Cicek 1
NAWA-AS006.002 Fertilizer management in the mixed cropping system Mohammed Karrou Mustapha El Bouhssini 1
NAWA-AS006.003 Cereal & legumes systems IPM Seid Ahmed Kemal Mustapha El Bouhssini 1
NAWA-AS006.004 Water & land productivity in rainfed systems Mohammed Karrou Theib Yousef Oweis 1
NAWA-AS006.005 Water productivity of forage/cattle Serkan Ates Muhi El-Dine Hilali 1
NAWA-AS006.006 System vulnerability Aden A. Aw-Hassan Ahmed Mazid 1
NAWA-AS006.007 Innovation platforms Shinan Kassam Aden A. Aw-Hassan 2
NAWA-AS006.008 Small holders’ irrigated systems typologies with a focus on resource use efficiency and combining options for sustainable intensifications Yigezu Atnafe Yigezu Aymen Frija 1
NAWA-AS006.010 Agricultural Gender Wage Gaps Dina Najjar Mohammed Karrou 1
  Projects
    
Acronym Project Title Year Section Leader Center Budget Start Date End Date View
  Outcomes and Impact
    
Code Outcomes and Impact Type Indicators View
4 Gender inclusiveness in decision making processes improved research outcome 2
5 Interventions better targeted/prioritized by stakeholders research outcome 1
1 Water use efficiency and Water Productivity increased research outcome 3
2 HHs income increased research outcome 3
3 Mono-cropping decreased research outcome 1
6 Crop yields increased development outcome 6
7 Tools, methods, processes and capacity of stakeholders to create/customize resilience options improved development outcome 6
8 Multi-stakeholder partnerships and interactive learning increased development outcome 1
9 Female and male farmers/shakeholders use/adopt/implement methods/tools/approaches/technologies/NRMpractices/Varieties/framework/concepts development outcome 2
  Personnel Involved
    
  Partners