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MOROCCO: Olive trees to replace kif in Larache

Amine Faraj

Moroccan Times

Tuesday 10 Jan 2006

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Anti-drug operation: Olive trees to replace kif in Larache

Local authorities in Larache province, northern Morocco, have decided to
substitute the cultivation of cannabis with olive trees, reported MAP
news agency.

After the destruction of the cannabis cultivated on more than 4,000
hectares, which started in June 2005, the Larache authorities are
providing alternative solutions for local farmers to substitute Cannabis
with olive trees.

According to the Regional Agency for Agricultural Development of Loukous
region (ORMVAL), studies showed that olive trees of “Haouzia” species
constitute the best cultivating substitution for that region. This
species could adapt to the region's rude climate and produce high
quality oil. Hence, the farmers would have sufficient legal incomes.

Last Friday, the governor of the province, Maoulainine Ben Khalihanna,
presided over the distribution of the first olive tree saplins in the
rural commune of “El Kula” near Larache city.

This was the first step of the planting programme which combines the
efforts of local authorities, local citizens and the ORMVAL.

The project received a common approval of local farmers. This has been
the result of an efficient sensitisation effort that succeeded in
convincing the locals of the possible benefits of an alternative
cultivation.

The plan aims to distribute over 50,000 olive trees this year. A common
agreement was made with all the rural communities in order to harmonise
the efforts of all involved parties. The programme is worth MAD 5
million, say ORMVAL executives.

The cannabis framers are very poor. The culture of “Kif” constitutes the
only, but a very low, income source available under the rude climate of
Morocco's northern regions. Farmers are completely exploited by drug
traffickers, but they hardly profit at all.

http://www.moroccotimes.com/paper/article.asp?idr=2&id=12058

 

 

 

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