Upgrades in the provinces: Cactus creates jobs
14 August 2012
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- Almost 50% of national production in Ait Baâmrane
- A processing unit operational this August
- An investment of 18 million DH
To organize the sector and increase the income of small producers, while also creating new jobs, the Souss-Massa-Drâa Regional Council has planned the development of a cactus packaging and processing unit on an 8,200 m² plot of land. This 18 million DH project is funded by the Department of Agriculture, the Souss-Massa-Drâa Regional Council, the Ait Baâmrane Cactus GIE, and the Sidi Ifni municipality. The unit is expected to be operational this August. Once completed, the facility will offer 90 permanent jobs in its first three years. In addition, it will bring together all existing producers in a common dynamic to defend their common interests. The goal: to produce better and in greater quantity, and to find ways to sell the production on both the national and international markets. It also aims to fairly distribute the profits and remunerate providers of technical and commercial support services. The concern is to better distribute added value along the production chain for the benefit of professionals in order to increase their bargaining power. It should be noted that in Morocco, the total area of cactus cultivation is estimated between 120,000 and 150,000 hectares.
It is a crop present throughout the country, but with densities varying from one region to another. In the south of the Kingdom, it is found at altitudes ranging from zero to 1,000 m. More precisely, 50% of the national cactus area is located between the Ait Baâmrane and Sidi Ifni areas. 40,000 hectares are located in the Sidi Ifni region. In this region, agricultural cooperatives cultivate cactus to make jam and candied fruit. Thus, this crop allows the development of remote and isolated areas. According to researchers in the field, this plant has various advantages. These are ecological, socio-economic, food, cosmetic, and even therapeutic. From a scientific and ecological point of view, according to a scientific researcher in the field, the use of cactus in Morocco is a major alternative to combating drought and desertification. Indeed, this plant is highly adaptable to the most critical environmental conditions (climate aridity, heat, poor soils). It also allows for very efficient biomass production and acceptable fodder value. Cactus is thus a survival fodder source during periods of drought. It also plays an important role in soil protection, and its cultivation is highly remunerative. One hectare of cactus yields up to 10,000 DH in profit for its operator, compared to 3,500 DH for argan and 1,500 DH for cereals.
Soon 100,000 hectares planted
According to researchers, southern Morocco has a very wide variety of cactus ecotypes. Indeed, during surveys conducted in 1999 and 2000 north, east, and south of Agadir and throughout the provinces of Tata, Goulmime, Tiznit (Sidi Ifni, Ait Baâmrane), Inezgane, Chtouka Ait Baha, Taroudant, and Essaouira, 100 ecotypes, including Achfri, Aïssa, and Moussa, were collected and planted. The results of these tests revealed the existence of a very wide genetic variability between ecotypes, both in terms of their fruits and their pads. For example, the weight of the fruit varies between 44g and 142g, and the sugar content between 4.5 and 18.7%. There are also many virtues of cactus.
Its derivatives are used in pharmacology as well as in cosmetology, not to mention human food and fodder for livestock, especially during periods of drought. It is also planned to develop the cultivation of this plant. Indeed, by 2020, some 100,000 hectares of cactus will be planted throughout the Kingdom.
Malika ALAMI.
Leconomiste.com
Published August 8, 2012.
Posted online August 14, 2012.
