Significant Agricultural Gains in Casablanca-Settat Region
The Al Moutmir program, which focuses on the cultivation of cereals and legumes in the Casablanca-Settat and Marrakech-Safi regions, has demonstrated a remarkable positive impact on agricultural performance through the implementation of innovative technical practices. Recent trials conducted with farmers have shown a significant increase in crop yields, particularly when provincial fertilization formulas are enriched with sulfur. In the Casablanca-Settat region, trials were carried out across several provinces including Benslimane, Berrechid, Settat, El Jadida, and Sidi Bennour, revealing a consistent improvement in yields compared to control plots. In Benslimane, for instance, cereal production achieved a total yield of 84.6 quintals per hectare with enriched formulas, compared to 72.5 quintals per hectare in control plots, marking a notable 16.6% increase. The grain yield also increased significantly to 28 quintals per hectare, a rise of 32.4%. Legumes also showed promising results, with total yield gains reaching up to 17.4%.
In Berrechid, the performance further improved with the addition of sulfur, where cereal yields reached 82.6 quintals per hectare, and grain yields increased to 42.7 quintals per hectare, representing increases of 19% and 26.2% respectively compared to control. Legumes in this area also exhibited remarkable growth, with a total yield of 83.2 quintals per hectare, reflecting a 32% improvement. Settat province particularly stood out, with sulfur-enriched cereals recording a total yield of 91.2 quintals per hectare against 70.5 quintals per hectare for the control, resulting in an impressive 29.4% increase. The grain yield surged to 46.3 quintals per hectare, marking a 31.1% rise. El Jadida’s trials echoed these successes, with cereals achieving an overall yield of 85.8 quintals per hectare, a 17.6% increase, while the grain yield rose by 19.3%. Legumes here also benefited from the new practices, showcasing a maximum increase of 24.3% in total yield and 27.9% in grain yield. Sidi Bennour emerged as one of the top-performing provinces, with cereals reaching a total yield of 100 quintals per hectare compared to 79.5 quintals for the control, indicating a 25.8% enhancement, and legumes demonstrating similar trends with gains of up to 30.7%.
Outstanding Results in Marrakech-Safi Region
In the Marrakech-Safi region, the outcomes have been equally impressive. The program encompasses 104 demonstration platforms across Safi, Youssoufia, and Essaouira for crops such as durum wheat, barley, fava beans, and peas. Safi province achieved the highest performance levels, with cereals yielding a total of 135.2 quintals per hectare using sulfur-enriched formulas, which is a substantial 37% improvement over the control plots. The grain yield increased significantly by 40.8%. Legumes in this region showed even more dramatic results, with total yields soaring from 81 to 140.6 quintals per hectare, representing a staggering 73.5% increase, while the grain yield jumped from 26.3 to 49.2 quintals per hectare, an impressive 86.7% rise. Youssoufia also recorded remarkable gains, where total yields increased from 41.9 to 66.3 quintals per hectare (a 57.9% increase) and grain yields rose to 32.8 quintals per hectare from 16.7 quintals. Essaouira exhibited the most extraordinary improvements, with total yields skyrocketing from 21.4 to 57.9 quintals per hectare, an astounding 170% increase, and grain yields nearly quadrupling from 7.5 to 27.5 quintals per hectare, a remarkable 266.8% enhancement. Overall, the trials across these provinces underscore that adapting fertilization formulas to local conditions while incorporating sulfur can significantly enhance the performance of cereal and legume crops.
As reported by lebrief.ma.
