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Join on Telegram Ouarzazate — The second International Congress on Oases and Date Palm opened today in Ouarzazate, bringing together policymakers, researchers, and agricultural experts to address the mounting challenges facing these ancient ecosystems.
The two-day gathering runs under the theme “Resilience and Adaptation of Oases Ecosystems to Global Changes,” focusing on the urgent need to protect these vital agricultural systems from climate threats and desertification.
Latifa Yaacoubi, Director of Morocco’s National Agency for the Development of Oasis and Argan Tree Zones (ANDZOA), delivered a speech during the inauguration ceremony of the congress on behalf of Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Bouari, by recalling King Mohammed VI’s commitment to oases development.
“Morocco’s oases cover 90,000 hectares and represent diverse natural treasures that form distinctive natural ecosystems,” she said.
Yaacoubi explained that these areas face unprecedented challenges.
“Today, these local communities face unprecedented challenges,” she noted, adding that they “create an imbalance in the environmental, economic, and social factors that have sustained them.”
The director referred to Morocco’s ambitious expansion plans under the Green Morocco Strategy, which includes planting 5 million new date palm trees alongside rehabilitating traditional oases.
Significant progress already made
Morocco has already achieved substantial results in oases development. The country has planted over 3 million date palm trees, with 2 million specifically dedicated to rehabilitating traditional oases, according to Yaacoubi.
She noted that this effort has created storage and processing facilities handling approximately 10% of national production.
The ministry has implemented comprehensive support programs for oases through various revolutionary initiatives, she explained, providing technical support and modern technology to farmers.
Research drives innovation
Morocco’s National Institute for Agricultural Research has made significant breakthroughs in oases agriculture.
“The efforts have resulted in encouraging achievements, especially through the National Institute for Agricultural Research in cooperation with institutions,” Yaacoubi said.
She outlined four key research areas, namely cataloging plant and animal genetic resources according to scientific standards while preserving threatened varieties, developing disease and pest control techniques, improving livestock production, and enhancing product processing methods and technologies.
Global experts share solutions
The congress features presentations from international specialists addressing different aspects of oases development.
Saudi Arabia’s Saud Al-Rowaily discussed “Oases and Desertification Threat: Opportunities and Challenges,” while Morocco’s Amrani Mohamed examined Development Model Transformations in North African Oasis Regions.
French expert Alain Cariou presented on Environmental and Climate Change Challenges in Arid Zones, and ICARDA’s Aly Abousabaa outlined strategies for “Transforming deserts and oases into thriving agricultural systems.”
Challenges garner international response
Yaacoubi stressed that oases’ challenges extend beyond Morocco’s borders. “The major challenges we face cannot be overcome through isolated efforts,” she said.
“The nature of these challenges requires confronting them within a global framework, where they are not linked to a specific geographical region, but are general phenomena that call for international cooperation.”
She referenced Morocco’s leadership in launching the Sustainable Oases Initiative during COP22 in Marrakech in 2016, which aims to enhance recognition of oases’ importance and mobilize necessary resources for their protection.
Preserving agricultural heritage
Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture has worked extensively to organize producers and farmers in mountainous and rural areas, Yaacoubi noted, while involving rural women in all development operations and establishing specialized educational institutions.
Morocco has successfully classified several oases as Global Important Agricultural Heritage Systems under the Food and Agriculture Organization.
The country has also developed a national program dedicated to this heritage within a comprehensive sustainable development framework.
Looking towards the future
“The situation that oases are experiencing pushes us all to work seriously to advance these ecosystems, through an integrated vision aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development,” Yaacoubi concluded.
The congress continues tomorrow with additional sessions focusing on practical solutions for ensuring oases sustainability and improving living conditions for local populations while preserving these unique ecosystems for future generations.
