Ouarzazate: Framework Agreement Signed for the Development of Oasis and Desert Areas
A framework partnership agreement was signed on Thursday in Ouarzazate between the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), the National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and the Argan Tree (ANDZOA), and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA). The agreement concerns the establishment of research and development platforms in oasis and desert regions.
The agreement was signed by INRA Director Lamia Ghaouti, ANDZOA Director General Latifa Yaacoubi, and ICARDA Director Aly Abousabaa, on the sidelines of the 2nd International Congress on Oases and Date Palm, held on May 22 and 23 in Ouarzazate.
This partnership aims to implement applied research projects rooted in local realities, support agricultural, social, and environmental development dynamics, strengthen the capacities of youth, women, and territorial actors, and mobilize technical and financial resources at both national and international levels.
It also seeks to establish a general framework for partnership and cooperation with the goal of creating a dedicated research and development platform, as well as implementing a coordinated action program in this field.
The cooperation covers several areas, including defining the priorities of research and development programs and measures related to integrated and territorial development in oasis and argan regions, with a view to securing financing.
It also includes technical support and capacity building in selected themes, the exchange of ideas and experiences on territorial development in ANDZOA’s area of intervention, the mobilization of required funding for the agreed projects, the training and guidance of beneficiaries, and the creation or rehabilitation of research stations in key oasis and argan tree areas.
In a statement to the press, ANDZOA’s Director General explained that the framework agreement places sustainable development of oases at the core of its priorities, adding that it also aims to strengthen the alignment of actions across all relevant institutions, particularly those involved in scientific research.
This initiative represents a crucial step in structuring a collective effort in favor of these fragile territories, where inter-institutional coordination is a fundamental lever for efficiency and impact, Ms. Yaacoubi emphasized.
For her part, INRA’s Director stated that this cooperation aims to create a platform that will serve as a regional center of excellence, intended to strengthen South-South cooperation, especially between North Africa, the Middle East, and the Sahel region.
This initiative also aims to enhance the capacities of local actors, particularly youth and women, while mobilizing the necessary financial and technical resources, added Ms. Ghaouti.
Meanwhile, ICARDA’s Acting Deputy Director, Michael Baum, said the agreement seeks to forge strong cooperation, realized through the creation of an international center dedicated to arid areas.
“Our goal is to advance our concept of integrated desert agriculture, an innovative approach perfectly suited to oasis development, which makes this partnership a very promising step for us,” he explained.
Held under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, under the theme: “Resilience and Adaptation of Oasis Ecosystems to Climate Change,” the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm serves as a platform to discuss the complex challenges related to oasis development, with a focus on cooperation and international openness.
Launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, the Congress aims to assess the achievements in the development of oasis areas, exchange on opportunities and potentials for integrated agricultural development — particularly in the date palm sector — and examine the related challenges.
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