Research funds increase significantly in five-year plan

Agricultural research funds will increase significantly from 0.25 percent of agriculture GDP to 1.5 percent by the end of the moroccan 2000-2004 development plan, announced agriculture, rural development and fisheries minister Habib El Malki.

The rise, Malki said opening the national agriculture research days in Rabat, is warranted by the necessity to vamp a key sector for economic and social development.

The award "Grand Prix Hassan II for agriculture research and innovation" is a major incentive to experts, he went on to say detailing priority realms to be probed such as knowledge of rural milieus and markets, water and rational use, output capability increase both in terms of volume and standards, economic research and promotion of scientific, technical and financing capabilities of research institutions.

The two-day colloquy split into three workshops to ponder strategic orientations for a new environment, a new system for farming research in Morocco and funding of sustained research.