Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
5.2.7
Advocacy, Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization for
Climate-Resilient Development in the Oases of Southern Morocco
This program focuses on the drier regions of the south and south-east.
Support
will be channeled within the framework of the project “Sustainable Territorial
Development of Southern Provinces”. This project - implemented by “Agence du
Sud” in collaboration with regional and local authorities - acts as a framework for
regional/local development and a catalyst for investment. The Program will support
project efforts to mobilize partners and resources to promote climate resilient
development in the southern provinces. Both climate change and accelerated land
degradation are major threat to the oases communities There is need to:
•
Raise awareness on the impacts of climate change on the oases of Morocco;
•
Mobilize partners and resources to promote climate-resilient development in the
oases of Morocco.
6
Integration of Forages into Farming Systems
The major challenge to livestock production is the dwindling feed sources. The
increase in small ruminant numbers is subjecting the already degraded rangelands
to further degradation, and farmers are facing an acute shortage of feed. To support
resource-poor farmers, therefore, there is an urgent need to both regenerate the
rangelands and provide alternative sources of low-cost feed, such as cactus and
feed blocks made from agricultural by-products (Fig.
5.5
). Spineless cactus or shrub
(
Atriplex halimus
) alone or intercropped with barley, vetch, oats, or other forage
crops can improve the supply and quality of feed resources and prevent soil erosion,
especially on hillsides outcome of alley cropping was that due to the increase in feed
supply, farmers increased flock size. The calculations suggest that alley cropping
increased the number of small ruminants by 25 % among technology adopters.
6.1
Integrated Livestock/Rangeland/Crop Production Systems
A range of technologies have been developed to integrate crop-livestock-rangeland
production systems. These include:
•
Barley production with alley cropping of shrubs such as
Atriplex
spp.
•
On-farm feed production
•
Feed blocks produced from agro-industrial by-products
•
Spineless cactus and fodder shrubs
•
Flock management
•
Natural pasture enhancement and rangeland management
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