Morocco launches an ambitious project of 10,000 hectares of argan trees – Consonews

Morocco is embarking on a major transformation of its ecosystem linked to arganiculture. The Agency for Agricultural Development (ADA) is piloting a project aimed at planting 10,000 hectares of argan trees and structuring the upstream and downstream of the value chain of this strategic sector. This program aims to change the status of the argan tree, currently exploited as a forest resource, into an agricultural product cultivated in managed orchards. Furthermore, the extension of areas dedicated to arganiculture will strengthen the climate resilience of the regions of Souss-Massa, Guelmim-Oued Noun and Marrakech-Safi.

Financed by the Green Climate Fund, the DARED project’s main objective is to reduce CO₂ emissions through the promotion of argan plantations and to contribute to improving the living conditions of rural communities. It is also part of an approach to economic development of the sector by integrating modern agricultural techniques and stimulating access to the market.

This program is based on three main axes: the planting of 10,000 hectares of argan trees, the organization of the production and marketing stages, and the strengthening of local capacities. Thanks to these initiatives, the beneficiary populations will be better equipped to sustainably manage natural argan forests, while increasing agricultural production.