Agriculture minister calls for setting up national drought observatory
Morocco, Agriculture, 11/2/1999

Moroccan Agriculture Minister Habib Malki on Monday called for the setting up of a national drought observatory.

It will monitor and assess the ecological, economic and social impacts of drought, Malki told an international workshop on "drought adaptation strategy."

In a drive to curb drought effects, Morocco had announced a series of perks and incentives to Moroccan farmers to help them start, in adequate conditions, a promising agricultural season.

The first move is the launching of a grant meant to enable farmers to buy, new mechanical equipment, mainly tractors, thanks to state-funding worth 50%.

Another 5-year financial mechanism was also set up to promote and encourage, as of this year, farming of citrus fruit and olives and use of irrigation systems. The subsidy also covers grain-silos and cold storage facilities.

In the central Atlas piedmont, 4,000 farmers, operating thanks to loans from the "Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole" (CNCA,) have benefitted from exonerations as part of government action to alleviate drought-effects.

Previous Stories:
  Farmers get perks as incentives for the season   (10/28/1999)
  Moroccan minister ties food security to improvement of rural youth skills   (10/26/1999)
  Morocco ready to share its water management experience   (9/29/1999)

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