Triple Performance - User contributions [en]

Market gardening and Drought in Morocco: How to Cope? Jihad Elmalih

2026-06-22T14:07:04Z

Bérengère Duval (4133151835):

{{Vidéo
|Titre=Market Gardening and Drought in Morocco: How to Cope? Jihad Elmalih
| Producteur=National Center for Agroecology
| Vignette=Thumbnail_youtube_uoq1VvBWqgY.jpg
| Date de mise en ligne=2026-06-04
| Durée=47 minutes
| Production=Market Gardening
| Vidéo=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoq1VvBWqgY
| Programme=Urbane
| Intervenants 0=Jihad Elmalih
| Mots-clés=Drought, Morocco
| Résumé=In this presentation, Jihad Elmalih, farmer and agroecology advisor, shares his experience at the Fessila farm in Morocco, a region facing increasing aridity. Confronted with extreme climatic conditions and poor soils, he implemented agroforestry systems inspired by traditional oases. These practices include living soil cultivation, the use of dense cover crops, planting windbreak hedges, and installing swales to optimize water management. These techniques have restored soil fertility and reduced water consumption by a factor of seven. Beyond technical aspects, Jihad Elmalih details the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) established by the RIAM network. This inclusive system, based on trust between producers and consumers, certifies agroecological farms while promoting knowledge sharing and access to short marketing circuits.
}}

This video was produced by the National Center for Agroecology (CNA) https://centre-national-agroecologie.fr/ as part of the URBANE project https://urbane-project.eu/, funded by the European Union.

The opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position of the European Union or the Research Executive Agency (REA).

{{Transcription
|transcription=Vincent Levavasseur:
Hello everyone, we meet today for a webinar presenting agroecological practices in Morocco. This webinar is part of the Urban project, a project on the development of agroecological practices in Africa, in various countries. Today, we will focus especially on what is happening in Morocco, and we have the pleasure of welcoming Jihad Elmalih, who is a farmer and agroecology advisor in Morocco, who will present the work he does both on his farm and in the network he leads, including everything related to PGS, and he will explain what this acronym means.

Jihad Elmalih:
Thank you very much for the invitation. I am Jihad Elmalih, a former IT professional, currently a farmer and agroecology advisor, and co-founder of the agroecological farm Fessila. Regarding practices in Morocco, of course, they share common foundations with what is found in Europe or France, but the difference here is that we are moving from semi-arid to arid conditions after seven years of drought. Certainly, this year, we have a very strange phenomenon, with massive floods and precipitation concentrated in one month. So what I will present now are all the practices implemented either on our farm or on pilot farms we manage to meet the needs of each farm, both for producing fruits, vegetables, market gardening, edible forest, etc. And facing this climate change with very high temperatures and very little water or very high salinity. Next slide. So, as I said, I am Jihad Elmalih. I am co-owner or co-founder of the Fessila farm. Fessila is an old Arabic word meaning young shoot. We are located on a farm between Tiflet and Hermitserre, between Rabat and the Middle Atlas. So, we are far from the sea but somewhat close to the first mountains of the Middle Atlas, which create a very varied thermal gradient, as we will see on the next slide. All this, of course, came after a long bicycle trip that my wife and I chose to take. We were in a completely different sector from what we do now. I was in new technologies, IT, etc. My wife was in insurance, banking, etc. After a long bike trip, we discovered ancient practices in the Atlas mountains with very harsh conditions and very little water, etc. We were inspired by everything done in the Mediterranean to leave everything and settle on a family farm purchased in 2010. That is where we started discovering agroecology, but through practice, observation, etc. The family land bought in 2010 is in a very isolated area, as it is where the cheapest land is found, due to poor soils, etc. It is a land with less than 1% organic matter, precisely 0.7% organic matter initially, with 69% sand, meaning it retains very little water and organic matter, little biodiversity, as it is monoculture over hundreds or even thousands of hectares, with deep plowing, etc. And very strong winds as we are located in a wind corridor. And of course, a very wide thermal altitude range, from -4°C in mid-winter as we are very close to the Atlas mountains, up to 49°C sometimes exceeding 49°C up to 50°C in mid-summer, lasting several weeks or even months, especially between June and late August. And a 3% slope which, of course, increases soil erosion and carries away all organic matter outside the farm. So, faced with all this, the idea is to recreate the oasis system seen in Morocco, which dates back 2000 years and still works, with multiple vegetation layers, including trees, canopies, shrubs, etc., and very diverse vegetation with, in our context, market gardening on living soil. That is why, from the start, we chose to plant many trees, both as hedges to reduce wind speed, which greatly evaporates water, etc. We measured and it can reach up to 60 tons of water lost per day due to wind, increasing in summer. Then, of course, the agroforestry system, planting about a dozen species north-south, creates a shade play for market gardening, for the vegetable garden and vegetables planted at the foot of the trees. This is what we do in the photo, but it is a whole process to get here. Next. Here, for example, all these photos were taken between 2020 and 2020 in mid-summer, meaning July-August. We see both the number and production in three dimensions. That means we have apple trees, and on the same cubic meter, we move from two dimensions to three dimensions on the same area. And since we have a shade play, we plant according to light and heat. Of course, vegetables, leaves, etc., can receive morning sunlight, but from 2 p.m. zenith and after, they are shaded. For example, anacaceous and cucurbitaceous plants that like some heat are shaded in the morning but sunny in the afternoon. This system creates shade that allows crops to grow calmly under the canopy. Moreover, we can even extend the season of some leafy vegetables. For example, mesclun can be cut six to eight times even in mid-summer, whereas in areas without trees, only one or two cuts are possible in mid-summer. Then, of course, we used many cover crop mixes to both aerate the soil and cover it, because initially, we could use straw, etc. But with drought, straw prices rose from 5 dirhams per bale to 50-60 dirhams per bale, ten times more, making it impossible to buy straw. That is why we make covers with mixes of 6 to 10 species and fertilize the cover crop instead of fertilizing the vegetables. This results in a very dense cover. Here, for example, we see a yellow spade 1.60 m tall while the green cover crop has already exceeded the vegetables, meaning it is already 1.75 m tall, as we fertilize the cover crop, which produces more biomass and allows mowing at flowering, providing the soil with large organic matter and a rich rhizosphere with roots, which reduces pest pressure and nourishes soil life. We are on very poor soil, so it is essential to invite soil life that helps decompact and nourish it, especially our fungal friends who create glomalin to capture soil particles against erosion from slope and raindrop impact or even very strong winds. On the next page, we will see that this residue lasted three months without irrigation, meaning we lost the well. Certainly, some vegetables like peppers were burned, but vegetables continue to grow because of the very dense cover, ranging from 10 to 40 cm depending on the bed's previous input level and the shade created by trees and canopy. On other farms, we used almost the same technique, except here we went from 0 to 9% organic matter, with 77% sand, and a very acidic pH rising from 4 to 5.5. So, what we achieved in 10-15 years on our own farm took a lot of time to experiment, find the right mix, use support trees, adapt seeds to our terroir, etc. Currently, in one cycle, meaning one year on soils between 1 and 3 years old, very poor soils, etc., we manage to produce market garden crops the first year. On this soil, we started with orientation to install support trees and, as usual, hedges to reduce wind speed and evaporation. Then we moved to a green area, and the next photo shows the landscape changed with this cover, then we installed trees. We have beds from the same year. We started in October and already see residues of cover crops mowed and harvests less than a year after design, installation, and start of harvests. Besides cover crops, we also used strawy manure and ash to help regulate soil pH. We discovered a very interesting tree, Senna ciamia, which helps increase soil pH and resists very high salinity. We see the difference in two years on the same soil with many organic matter inputs, agroforestry, chop and drop in the sancturopic zone with support trees resistant to salinity and drought. We achieve a soil... You mentioned how? Chop and drop, mowing and leaving organic matter in place, whether shrubs planted for this or comfrey-like species, very famous in Europe but more drought-resistant, such as Mexican sunflower or Titonia diversifolia, which resists drought well and accumulates much organic matter. Here, in one to two years, we go from very sandy soil (77% sand) that retains little organic matter and has no structure, to a soil rich in glomalin, as seen by the soil color change and root richness in the rhizosphere. This is the first horizon taken from the same place, and the difference is two years of practice. Then, with all organic matter deposits, the soil invites a vast world of macro-organisms discovered on site. Initially, there were only a few woodlice. Year after year, we see fungal filaments, even vertebrates from epigeal fauna. Year after year, soil life establishes. Especially since the cycle is very short in Morocco, with long droughts and extended dormancy. That is why from the fourth or fifth year of agroforestry system installation, soil life extends even to early June, as we keep moisture and freshness as long as possible, whereas in the first years, we barely see it for 2-3 months maximum per year. We go from yellow soil resembling perrot, seen under the pomegranate tree at the bottom of the photo. Among other farms we supported, some have very steep slopes. There, we installed Bessières or Swales. It is fortunate because we discovered a Moroccan documentary from the 1950s where old farmers used Egyptian levels or water levels to follow contour lines and install swales that slow precipitation water. That is why in the same regions, olive trees over a century old still exist, fully autonomous, without maintenance, still fruiting. We installed these three years ago. This year, we received over 400 mm in one month, which is what we normally get in two years. We received it in three to four weeks, causing floods in major Moroccan cities. Over 200,000 people were evacuated in an area where cereals are grown and many breeders live. Soils with deep plowing lose porosity, whereas in our soils, no flooding occurred because porosity created by earthworms and tree roots allowed water absorption instead of puddles. Three years later, after floods across Morocco, the next slide shows no erosion, and swales are filled. Moreover, recent precipitation in March lasted 4 to 5 weeks. Behind each swale, there is a row of trees growing solely from the swale. This is a first, as farms starting now must irrigate weekly or even daily with rising temperatures. In this design, we made a metallic soil cover, as we did not have enough precipitation to start a green manure, so we sowed a mix of wild plants and weeds, and after precipitation, we have both water retention in swales and a mat that holds soil, as the soil shows bedrock through decades of erosion. Then production begins with different varieties. Here, we can grow carrots 30 to 35 cm long without tillage, straight of course, but only from the third year to achieve such yields. Then very slow leeks reaching 40-45 cm. Then the full diversity of vegetables with interesting calibers, proving agroecology can feed the population. These results were measured between 2016 and 2021. Economically, initially, we irrigated a lot as the system was just starting, consuming up to 3000 dirhams (about 300 euros) per month for irrigation to start the slope, etc. Between 2016 and 2021, we divided water input by seven through trees, cover crops, living soil, cover crop cycles, mowing and leaving all crop residues, weeds, tree leaves, pruning residues, etc. This also increased useful water reserve, reducing our water ratio. Also, the rainy period now lasts from October to March without irrigation, whereas initially, we irrigated almost daily, sometimes twice daily. There was a significant increase in organic matter over time, from 0.7-0.9 to 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.7, 1.8. Yields improved. We conducted a comparative study between our first five years and conventional growers. Conventional culture yields between 20 and 30 tons of eggplants per hectare, tested on three species. We reached about three tons between the third and fifth year. That means between 3 and 5 years, each bed, thanks to history, some used BRF, others fermented compost, different fertilizer cycles with different species, etc. Between 3 and 5 years, we reached the range of conventional yields, 20 to 30 tons, across three species: eggplants, tomatoes, and beets. The most exciting thing is that tomatoes even matched yield with varieties selected over six years. Working only with farmers on old varieties selected for disease resistance, drought resistance, and yield, after five or six years, yields went from 500 g to 1-1.5 kg per tomato plant up to 16-25 kg per plant, which is remarkable under very arid conditions.

Vincent Levavasseur:
How many tomato plants per square meter is your planting density?

Jihad Elmalih:
Two tomato plants per square meter. In a one-meter-wide bed, we create a single row of tomatoes spaced 50 cm apart, but next to it, there are other crops. That means tomatoes are associated with basil or other crops. So in the same square meter, there are two tomatoes but also other crops. For example, with kale, six kale plants and two tomatoes per square meter. Next slide. After all these series.

Vincent Levavasseur:
Classics... Sorry, Basiade. Not about economics, but can you live off your hectare, support one or two people, earn a salary comparable to a conventional market gardener in the region? How do you position yourself in terms of workload, overall turnover at the hectare scale, this kind of data which is also interesting?

Jihad Elmalih :
Yes, generally the first three to five years are not economically interesting at all, except for maximum diversity. For one reason, market gardening, for example, can be sold and commercialized in the first year. So that's not a problem, we can do a shared crop, we start in six months, eight months, ten months, we begin to have an amount of money. However, trees take time to grow, they take time to bear fruit. What we do is that all the profit, a large part of the income we calculate from everything related to market gardening, etc., helps us finance the first three to five years to take care of the trees, their purchase, irrigation, fertilization, pruning, etc. Guaranteeing a very sustainable and very profitable economy on small surfaces, like one hectare, two, three, etc. It is absolutely necessary to diversify as much as possible. So that's what we did: we produce fruits, vegetables, but also plants. We have a nursery on site, so we are autonomous in seeds, in plants. But on the other hand, we produce plants for about fifteen, even twenty farms, which generates a very interesting turnover. Then we also have a co-responsible poultry invader, so we also see broiler chickens, old breeds, eggs in the baskets or those who also order eggs. Then also in the production part, we have hive products, etc. We have diversified as much as possible, we can of course generate salaries, we can far exceed what we can earn in conventional farming. But if we base ourselves only on market gardening, we cannot have profitability. Besides all that, everything produced, meaning fruits, vegetables, aromatic and medicinal plants, market gardening plants, trees that we produce even on site, eggs, hive products, etc. So everything produced, on the side, we also have services. So training services, on-site reception services, there are people who come to spend a weekend, etc., eat healthy, agroecological food, take a tour, do self-covid, etc. So the service part, training, technical support, reception, training, etc. greatly helps to have diversity and especially money between the three and five first years which are a bit tricky. After, after five years, what happens is that we increase yields and reduce costs. Because then, the soil becomes alive. We no longer buy manure, we no longer buy compost, we no longer buy seeds because we become autonomous and so we reduce our water consumption and also increase yield. And so between decreasing expenses and increasing yield, of course profitability will gradually rise up to 2, 3, even 4 cents.

Vincent Levavasseur :
And how many tons do you produce of the different types of fruits, per fruit? Per hectare, if you have those figures?

Jihad Elmalih :
Actually, I don't have the exact figures in mind. I keep in mind, for example, the figures we made in Anvergine, etc. But on average, I believe that on a farm we recently manage, we manage to produce on 1000 square meters, 15 baskets, between 12 and 15 baskets per week. And the baskets weigh about a dozen kilos.

Vincent Levavasseur :
On the market gardening part.

Jihad Elmalih :
So only on the market gardening part. So the first and second year. So 1000 m² cultivated gives us about fifteen different species and gives us between 12 and 15 baskets weighing about a dozen kilos. Okay. And on the fruit part, you have?

Vincent Levavasseur :
Some figures at that time?

Jihad Elmalih :
The fruit part varies a lot. For example, olives, we currently manage to produce, on 8 millimeters squared, between 2 and 3 and a half tons. It all depends on whether we irrigate, whether we still have water or not. Then, for example, pomegranates, last year, in October, we harvested 32 kilos on one pomegranate tree. So that's an average, because there are trees that weigh 45 kilos, others a bit less, 25, 30, etc. And it varies, it all depends on whether we irrigate or not, whether we have enough water or not, whether we fertilize or not, etc. For example, the farm we currently manage, called Festila, we haven't managed it for almost four years, we live on site, etc. But on the other hand, we manage quite a few external projects. But it's the work we did over 10 years that gives us this freedom to come harvest even though we don't fertilize, we get little, etc. But there is a deposit of organic matter and crop residue that is constantly recycled. Very good.

Vincent Levavasseur :
That's the second part then?

Jihad Elmalih :
Exactly, so the second part is the participatory guarantee system, so we are part of a network called RIA, which is the abbreviation for the network of agroecological initiatives in Morocco, so it is a network that brings together producers, consumers, agronomists, acalbitians, researchers, intermediaries, processors, breeders, etc., but who are in the agroecological, permaculture, organic sphere, but especially agroecological. And all this is the result of a series of meetings between 2012 and 2014, which created a collective, which created a lot of exchanges, etc., which transformed into an association in 2015, the RIAB. And so, after two years of work throughout Morocco, they created a PGS in 2017, late 2017 early 2018, so the PGS is a participatory guarantee system since when a companion When we had a series of meetings, exchanges, etc., we saw that behind there are producers, consumers, but there still needs to be a guarantee system. Whereas the existing systems are all organic and do not really fit the Moroccan reality and everything economic, ecological, but also social. So we created the PGS, it is a participatory guarantee system that is very inclusive, meaning it brings together producers, consumers, and experts. And these three make the specifications, internal regulations, visit forms, and charges. And so the specifications, of course, are made inclusively through a series of meetings to see how we can improve practices, etc. And include them in the specifications with, of course, consumers who absolutely want to eat seasonal, because other labels completely neglect producing in season, etc. And producers who absolutely want to have short circuit sales, no need to export or travel all over Morocco to sell their vegetables, and so on. So that's where we came up with this system based on trust, sharing, and networking. And after a series, we released the first specification dedicated to plant production and then moved on to animal production, currently we have three specifications. The first is plant production, everything related to market gardening, etc., but especially market gardening. The second is agriculture. And the third is apiculture. We are also updating every year to improve practices and also develop updated specifications. Then, how does it work? We developed all the specifications, etc. How does it work? Next page, there are two main parts. The first part is the application part. Where the producer approaches the network, wants to absolutely join this network, meet all the producers, exchange practices, even exchange seeds, etc. He makes a first facilitation request. Facilitation is what? We send volunteers who go directly to the farm to see if the farm is labelable. Is it consistent with the specifications? Is the soil covered? Are there enough trees? Are there no-till practices? Is there a living soil market? Is the design very ecological? And so on. And we explain the specifications with everything that is prohibited, everything that is pesticides, chemical fertilizers, deep tillage, etc., everything that is prohibited, everything that is recommended and everything that is mandatory. Then, we invite the producer who requests certification, we invite him to training between their facilitation and the real request. We invite to participate in certification visits, training, exchange groups, forums that we organize, etc. And then, when he is ready, both his farm corresponds to the specifications and he is ready and motivated. Then he requests membership to the RIA, requests labeling with a signed and legalized letter of commitment, etc. And he sends it to the national PGS permission which will assign him to a local group based on geolocation, whether he is in Rabat, Kaza, Marrakech, Agadir, etc. We have branches all over Morocco. We also try to go a bit further south, where there are very few branches, gather as many actors as possible to get involved and manage an ecological transition at the national level. The second part is at the time of the request, we send three inspectors. The inspectors consist of a producer, a consumer. There must be at least three people, four, five, etc. But it is three who investigate with the investigation form, etc. They are producers, consumers, also experts who go to the farm. They are not the same people, meaning we do a random draw. So on each farm in turn, cycle, there are three people who investigate and visit the farm to see if the specifications are respected, etc. So, sending inspectors. Of course, there are observers who can come. For example, facilitators, those who come to request labeling, but they don't know how it works, etc. They can come to attend an inspection visit to see how it works, etc. And then, of course, there is an investigation form that will be several pages, etc., which will be filled out on the number of trees, what type of variety, what species to cultivate, a crop rotation scheme, what type of inputs, whether the inputs are created on site or purchased. If purchased, their traceability must be ensured, etc. And after all that, on the form, we saw the national committee which will organize the CONAC. It is a meeting where we locally gather all the farms, rather it is the colloquium that gathers all the farms that have been inspected in the same region. And then, of course, we move on to the next step which is the CONAC, the National Commission which will gather all the farms in question. And so, that is where we move to the second opinion, because the colloquium gives the first approval opinion, if it sees that there are prohibitions, etc. And then, the second opinion will be either favorable, unfavorable, or favorable but with recommendations. That means if there are farms that have a traceability problem on such or such a crop. If it is prohibited, it is no, unfavorable. If it is an obligation but not done, for example if we see that there is soil cover but not total or if the soil remains bare for more than a month or more than a month, it is favorable but with recommendations. We always come with the history to see if the permit holder has made efforts to improve soil cover, be more autonomous in seeds, or even exchange with other producers, etc. And so, there you see in the photo the specifications. This is a 2017 version, but every year, or every 2-3 years, we improve and release a new improved version. Or of course, there are recommendations that become obligations. Because even tillage at the start was not to exceed 20 cm, we move to not exceeding 10 cm and then we move to no tillage at all. This way we integrate this gentle and permanent transition to be as inclusive as possible and also to encourage small farmers in their transition. So I spoke about small farmers because the PGS is mainly made for small farmers because it costs at least ten times less than other labels. And in addition, you have access to training, seed hubs, a huge network that constantly gathers, either on networks, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc. Or physically through training. For example, tomorrow, we have a training on the PGS, but we will do a reminder of the basic principles of agroecology for those requesting adaptation for the first time, and so on. Today, there was a conference with Bernard Alonso on agroecology, etc. In Niagara and so on. So, every time, there are meetings, etc. To further popularize agroecological practices, but also the PGS which is an alternative to the label which is a local inclusive label based on respect for life. So the themes addressed, we have eight themes. In the specifications. We have land management and crop choice. That is where we talk about creative crop design. Is this monoculture pearl coming from diversity? Are crop choices based on resistant crops or are they crops that consume a lot of water, etc.? Then, the second part is all about soil management and fertilization. Soil management, is there tillage? Is there proper work? Is there cover? Is fertilization through natural fertilizers or synthetic fertilizers? Does the farm use fertilizers, but are they produced on site or purchased locally, or brought from afar, and so on. Their traceability, sometimes is it industrial or peasant production, and so on. The third part is all about prevention, work against diseases and pests, how they are managed, are they managed manually, through green fertilizers, through manures or natural solutions or are they chemically managed by other soil destruction tools. Then we have a part dedicated to plants and seeds, so we also look for good seed traceability, if they are F1 seeds treated with franchises it is prohibited, if they are standard seeds or agroecological seeds etc. It is even better. And the farm equipment because there are farms that are huge but on the other hand they keep a conventional part and the other agroecological because we find farms where it is a family farm where each heir cultivates in his own way but on the other hand we will not impose our way of thinking on everyone but on the other hand we just have to ensure that the two farms keep a distance to avoid treatments crossing over. In addition, farm equipment must absolutely be separated. Sprayers, all tools, etc. To avoid contamination, etc. We manage behind through soil analyses, specific residue analyses, etc. The sixth point is water management on the farm. Is there good water management on the farm? Has the farmer installed a cover, does the farmer cover his soil, cultivate for example species that are drought resistant, does he have a water management strategy, does he have open basins or are they covered with nets or trees, are there ditches, are there pits to stop water and so on. What means, for example, is water pumped by electric, gas, diesel, or renewable energy, etc. The seventh point is all about waste from painting, all inorganic waste, all plastic bags, etc. How are they managed, are they recycled or burned, etc. Are organic wastes valued in the form of compost, surface composting, or compost in other ways, or are they thrown away, etc. To have an impact also on the valorization of farm waste, whether it is mounted plants, crop residues, peelings, etc. And the eighth point which is very interesting, is the social point and also the working conditions of workers on the farm. Are they well paid, does the remuneration respect the SMIG or SMAG, the minimum agricultural wage in Morocco, do they have social benefits or not, can they have access to harvests for example, or meals, etc. To guarantee a balance between everything ecological, economic, but also social. So here are roughly the themes addressed in the specifications and which are of course in the investigation form which is nine pages long, which takes between half a day and half a day, or a bit more, depending on the size of the farm but also the diversity of employment. And at the end of the investigation of course, at the end of the commission, etc., the Moroccan agro-economic PGS conformity certificate is given to the producer, but for a maximum duration of one year. To be renewed each year to see improvements, whether the respect of practices is still there or if there is regression, progress, etc. And so far, in 2025, we have 48 farms labeled in Rabat, so we have many more farms between Rabat, Salé, Tiflens, etc. That is where Oriyam started and where there is a very lively agricultural zone around Rabat, it is not really Rabat the capital, but Zalangour, 22 farms in Marrakech and 19 in Casablanca, on an area of 800 hectares between only Rabat and Marrakech, Casablanca is a bit more. So we can go up to 1000 hectares cultivated in agroecology only in PGS while there are other farms cultivating in other regions where PGS is not yet introduced. So currently we introduced this year in 2026 a new region but they will probably be labeled this year at the end of this month.

Vincent Levavasseur :
The valorization a bit there of the farmers of this label, how do they manage to benefit from all these efforts that are made?

Jihad Elmalih :
Yes, that's very interesting, so on the one hand it's access to a huge network, exchange networks, etc., and currently there are quite a few restaurants, quite a few farmers' markets, that guarantee access only if you have the SPG. So if, for example, already among consumers, there are other sectors, there is catering, etc. There are restaurants that are committed and absolutely want to have products that are SPG labeled, because they were, of course, among the people who developed the specifications, etc. So they know very, very well the value of the SPG. Then for the producer it is also a network and in addition to that there are 2 to 3 weekly farmers' markets that bring together only producers in SFG. Of course, to avoid that a producer in agroecology goes through a very, very slow circuit or a conventional circuit where there were ten years ago about fifteen intermediaries. The SPE markets are markets that we are always working to improve, to distribute as much as possible, because it requires a lot of time, a lot of work, a lot of budget, a lot of authorization. The two to three markets currently are evening spaces. For example, there is one in a church where they have a green space, etc. They are very much in agreement with all that. Another one is in an archiculture club, etc. There are other Marrakechs that are... In a public garden, but through a series of authorizations, we were able to organize this market. In Casablanca, it is a farm, it is in a farm that we organized all that, etc. So, to hold a market in a public place, it takes a lot of time, etc. So, that is why at the same time we do the popularization part, the networking part, etc., but also a part of advocacy, awareness-raising both for consumers, but advocacy towards the State to recognize the SPG and also to recognize agroecology as a means, not only of production, but as a way of life that brings together economy, ecology and social aspects.

Vincent Levavasseur :
Thank you very much, that's very clear. I think on the guarantee system part, we have explained well how it works. Everything can be found on the RIAM website, if we want to find the map of producers, information related to the market, information related to the SPG, it is on the RIAM website, right?

Jihad Elmalih :
Exactly on the RIAM website which we will soon update as well and we will also work on an application and a dedicated website for the marketing of SPG labeled products to facilitate the task for producers. Personally, as a producer, marketing and looking for consumers, etc., is a full-time job that takes a lot of time and of course we want that time for production, etc. And so if we delegate this part to other people or on a website or an application that facilitates this task, we will produce better, we will focus even more on our practices and improve our practices to better manage this transition. In addition to that, we are currently entering the seventh year of drought. Certainly, we had an exception this year with some rainfall, but they caused a lot of flooding on soils that are not lignified, etc. But on the other hand, directly after, we have very, very hard rises. And so, to continue always the research, the exchanges, etc. For practices that both resist drought but also salinity. Because with drought, we have a lot of salinity in the water, in the soils, which greatly reduces yields. And each time, we try new things, we integrate certain shrubs and try to see the results gradually.

Vincent Levavasseur :
Understood, thank you very much for all this information and these presentations. So there will be other webinars held in other countries, notably one planned in Senegal and Benin as part of the Urban project. I will let you conclude the presentation.

Jihad Elmalih :
Jeanne, the end of the month. Yes, well listen, thank you very much for the invitation. Everything that Verde Terre Productions, the National School of Agroecology do and all the practitioners do to advance agronomy, to make it as ecological as possible, as sustainable and more accessible to everyone is very interesting for me. And here, I invite you to visit us in Morocco if you ever come to Morocco. If you have any questions, with great pleasure.
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{{Résumé long
|Résumé=== Market gardening and drought in Morocco: how to cope? ==

As part of the Urban project, dedicated to the development of agroecological practices in Africa, the webinar welcomed '''Jihad Elmalih''', farmer, agroecology advisor and co-founder of the '''Facyla''' farm in Morocco. He shares here his feedback on the transition towards resilient systems facing an increasingly arid climate.

== Pedoclimatic context in Morocco ==

The Facyla farm, located between Tiflet and Khémisset, illustrates the challenges of Moroccan market gardening. After seven years of drought, the region now oscillates between extreme drought and sudden flooding episodes. The initial characteristics of the land were difficult:
* Less than 1% organic matter (0.7%).
* Soil 69% sandy, retaining very little water.
* Extreme thermal amplitude (-4°C in winter, up to 50°C in summer).
* Constant wind causing high evapotranspiration.

== Agroecological adaptation strategies ==

To recreate an "oasis"-type system, Jihad Elmalih implemented several key techniques:

* '''Agroforestry:''' Planting about a dozen tree species in hedges and complex systems reduces wind speed and creates a beneficial shade effect for crops. This three-dimensional system allows for staggered production and better temperature control for vegetables.
* '''Soil management:''' Abandoning deep plowing and massively adding organic matter transformed the soil structure. The use of green manures (mixtures of 6 to 10 species) and "chop and drop" techniques (mowing and mulching in place) promotes soil life and the development of glomalin, essential for water retention and erosion control.
* '''Water harvesting:''' Installing "baissières" (swales) following contour lines slows down and infiltrates rainwater. These structures have eliminated erosion and reduced irrigation needs by a factor of seven over five years.
* '''Varietal selection:''' The farm favors locally adapted farmer seeds, which has significantly increased yields (e.g., from 500g to more than 15kg per tomato plant after 6 years of selection).

== Economic viability and diversification ==

The transition to agroecology requires a 3 to 5-year period during which profitability is more fragile. To address this, the farm's economic model relies on:
* '''Diversification:''' Fruits, vegetables, aromatic and medicinal plants, poultry, beekeeping, and nursery.
* '''Services:''' Training, farm visits, and technical advice, which provide a stable income during the first years.
* '''Cost reduction:''' Autonomy in seeds, compost, and reduced needs for external inputs progressively strengthen profitability.

== The Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) ==

The network of agroecological initiatives in Morocco ('''RIAM''') established in 2017 a specific guarantee system to meet the needs of small producers: the PGS.

Unlike industrial certifications, the PGS is an inclusive tool based on trust and networking:
# '''Co-constructed specifications:''' Defined by producers, consumers, and experts.
# '''Investigation process:''' A commission composed of producers and consumers visits farms to validate compliance with practices (covered soil, absence of chemical products, water management, social conditions of workers).
# '''Continuous improvement:''' The certificate is issued for one year and encourages the producer to progress (e.g., from shallow plowing to no-till).

Today, the network counts hundreds of certified hectares around Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, thus offering a concrete and accessible alternative for small Moroccan farmers. The project continues to develop with digital marketing tools to free up farmers' time and strengthen their resilience to climate change.

}}
[[fr:Maraîchage et Sécheresse au Maroc : Comment faire face ? Jihad Elmalih]]

Close the Little Fellah Farm

2025-12-17T11:24:51Z

Bérengère Duval (4133151835): Bérengère Duval (4133151835) moved page Close the Little Fellah Farm to The Little Fellah Farm

#REDIRECT [[The Little Fellah Farm]]

The Little Fellah Farm

2025-12-17T11:24:50Z

Bérengère Duval (4133151835): Bérengère Duval (4133151835) moved page Close the Little Fellah Farm to The Little Fellah Farm

{{Portrait de ferme
|Nom de l'exploitation=Le Petit Fellah
| Sous-titre=Mixed farming and livestock
| Nom de l'agriculteur=Taha Touijri
| Bannière=Taha Touijri photo Bannière.jpg
| Photo de l'agriculteur=Taha Touijri photo agriculteur.jpg
| Département=Morocco
| Adresse=Sidi Allal el Bahraoui, Morocco
| Coordonnées GPS=34.01711, -6.5563
| SAU=10.3
| UTH=3
| Texture du sol=Sand
| Type de production=Mixed farming and livestock
| Cultures=Apricot@ Lemon@ Plum@ Peach@ Potato@ Bell pepper@ Cabbage@ Pea@ Durum wheat@ Oat@ Barley
| Autres caractéristiques=Soil biological activity@ Organic matter@ Regenerative agriculture
| Titre court=Taha Touijri's farm
| Objectif=Soil regeneration
| Organisme=Centre National d'Agroécologie
| Programme=Urbane
| Date de mise en œuvre=2017
| Mois de l'année=January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
| Mots-clés=Orchard, Arboriculture, poultry, agroforestry with poultry
}}
Taha Touijri, a farmer in Sidi Allal El Bahraoui, Morocco, cultivates his land and raises his animals according to agroecology principles. Here is a portrait of his farm.

== Context ==

=== The farm ===

* '''Farmer's name:''' Taha Touijri
* '''Farm name:''' Le Petit Fellah
* '''Location:''' Sidi Allal El Bahraoui, Morocco
* '''Establishment date:''' 2017
* '''Cultivated area (UAA):''' 10.3 ha (excluding 5 ha rented)
* '''Soil texture:''' Mostly [[sandy]], with a silty-clay plot (valley bottom, former wadi)
* '''Number of people working on the farm ([[FTE]]):''' about 3 full-time equivalents (Taha and 2 equivalents spread over 4 employees).
* '''Altitude:''' about 240–250 m
* '''Climate:''' According to the Köppen-Geiger climate classification, the region has a [[Mediterranean]] climate with hot summers (Csa). Temperatures generally range between 10 °C and 32 °C, with extremes that can drop to 0 °C (winter) or rise above 40 °C in summer. Average annual precipitation is around 400 mm, concentrated between October and April.

=== Marketing ===

* '''[[Direct sale]] at the farm and in baskets''' (10 to 13 baskets weekly).
* Future project of a '''farm restaurant''' to '''promote local products.'''
* Plans to eventually organize '''agricultural or artisanal training''' (such as one-day wellness workshops) in a building he constructed near his farm restaurant.

[[File:Taha_Touijri_Verger_1.png|thumbnail|Citrus orchard]]

=== Crop production: ===

* '''Orchard (≈ 4 ha):''' lemon tree, [[plum tree]], [[apricot tree]], [[peach tree]].
* '''Market gardening (≈ 1.3 ha):''' [[potato]], [[carrot]], [[bell pepper]], [[cabbage]], small [[pea]].
* '''Cereals (≈ 3 ha):''' [[durum wheat]], [[oat]], [[barley]].

* '''Projects and [[:Category:Experiments|experiments]]:'''
** Introduction of '''[[alfalfa]]''' between the [[trees]] (forage production).
** No-till market gardening trials: sweet potatoes (up to 6 kg), beefsteak tomatoes (≈1 kg).
** Project of a '''fruit hedge''' in the vegetable garden.

=== Animal production: ===

* '''Sheep:''' about 30 heads
* '''Cows:''' a few heads, from a Holstein × local breed cross.
* '''Poultry:'''
** 100 hens integrated into the orchard (chicken-orchard system, no henhouse, perches in the trees).
** 8 ducks.
** 13 geese.
* '''[[Beekeeping]]:''' 15 hives.
* '''[[Livestock]] management:''' free [[grazing]] during the day, return to the barn in the evening. Health management based on natural selection (elimination of weak individuals).

=== Study, training and life path ===
Taha Touijri has an atypical background, marked by a voluntary conversion to agroecology.

* '''Initial training:''' economist, with no direct link to agriculture.
* '''Establishment in 2017:''' took over a 13 ha family land (''melk''), abandoned for 12–13 years, with only 4000 DH initial investment.
* '''Family opposition:''' his choice to take over the farm was initially not supported by his family.
* '''First steps in conventional agriculture:''' use of chemical inputs at the beginning.
* '''Turning point towards agroecology:''' a striking scene in an input store made him reflect: an angry farmer was denouncing the inefficiency of a pesticide. Taha projected himself in this conflictual relationship with nature and refused to enter this logic. He then decided to turn to agroecology, consistent with his "calm and peaceful" character.
* '''Continuous self-training:''' learning via the Internet and exchanges with other farmers.

== Agronomic aspect ==

=== Irrigation ===

* '''Source:''' 5 traditional wells, only one used, can irrigate for 4 to 5 hours (or 24 hours at the beginning of the season).
* '''Progressive [[irrigation]]''' to accustom plants to water stress, especially in orchards and [[:Category:Crops|market gardening crops]].
* '''In June:''' 2 irrigations per month, 4 hours per tree.
* '''In''' '''spring''', irrigation is delayed until June (compared to March for neighbors), thanks to good [[water management]].
* No exact flow measurement: watering about 30 minutes per sector.
* Project of [[Swale|contour ditches]] to manage runoff water, with the prospect of creating a pond.

=== Livestock and health management ===

* The '''sheep''' flock is '''selected over''' several generations for their resistance (no vaccination). He sells the weakest individuals to strengthen the flock.
* For '''cows''', he also made a cross between '''Holstein and a local breed.'''

* Sheep and cows are put outside '''to graze''', early in the morning, brought back to the barn during the hot hours, then outside again in the late afternoon before being brought back again in the late evening.
* The '''ducks and geese''' should fertilize a future pond for a '''fertilized water irrigation project'''

[[File:Taha_Touijri_Baissière.jpg|thumbnail|Contour ditch on the sloping plot]]

=== Implementation of contour ditches ===
He has implemented '''contour ditches on the slopes of his plot''' to '''slow down water flow''' during heavy rains. With the nearby highway works, a wadi was diverted and the water from this wadi now crosses his field. To manage this new flow, he installed additional contour ditches and plans, eventually, to create a pond to store runoff water during intense rainy episodes.

== Practice of interest ==

=== Orchard with chickens and manure spread by the chickens ===

==== Context ====
Taha Touijri set up a fenced orchard with chickens. He manages [[fertilization]] by placing '''piles of manure''' that the '''chickens scatter by scratching'''.

This method ensures homogeneous fertilization, reduces manual work, and values both the droppings and manure produced on the farm.

==== Objective ====

* Integrate chickens into the orchard to '''improve natural fertilization''' thanks to their droppings and manure dispersion.
* '''Optimize egg laying''' by recreating an environment adapted to the natural behavior of chickens (scratching, foraging in the soil).
* '''Reduce manual work''' of manure spreading.
* Promote the '''health and productivity of fruit trees''' (greener foliage, increased yield).

[[File:Taha_Touijri_cloture_2.png|thumbnail|425x425px|Orchard fence for chickens]]

==== Implementation ====

* '''Fenced enclosure in the orchard''' (1,500 to 2,000 m²) hosting about 100 chickens.
* '''Fence construction:'''
** 2 weeks of work for 4 people.
** 3 m high netting (cost ≈ 3,000 DH), iron wire (100 DH/50 m), stakes made on the farm.
** Net buried 20 cm to limit [[predators]].

* '''Manure application:''' [[File:Taha_Touijri_Benne_pour_tracteur.jpg|thumbnail|419x419px|3.2 m3 trailer attached to a tractor.]] The system consists of placing piles of manure in the lemon orchard about one 3.2 m3 trailer load for 4 to 5 trees.
* '''The chickens''' come to '''scratch''' and '''naturally disperse''' it. Once the manure is partially spread but still concentrated, the farmer reforms a pile a little further in the plot. This cycle is repeated two to three times until the manure is completely spread.

* '''Practical organization:'''
** Chickens fed '''with grains, vegetables, and fruit leftovers.'''
** Easy movement '''by throwing grains''' (when he needs to get the chickens out of the enclosure or make them come back).
** No henhouse: chickens sleep in the trees and lay eggs in the grass.
** Daily check of the '''waterer''' (≈20 min/day).

==== Observed results ====

* '''Poultry production:'''
** Significantly improved laying (almost all hens lay).
** Eggs rarely damaged or eaten thanks to the enclosure.
* '''Fruit production:'''
** Greener and healthier foliage in the orchard area with chickens.
** Fruit production nearly doubled (especially on lemon trees), according to the farmer.
* '''Fertilization:''' Homogeneous manure dispersion limiting manual work.
* '''Labor:''' reduced manual spreading time (replaced by natural scratching by chickens).
* '''Perspectives:''' creation of 2–3 additional enclosures per year.

== Photo gallery of Le Petit Fellah ==
{{PhotosUrbane|album=119}}

== Sources ==
Interview with Taha Touijri conducted in 2025.{{Partenariat Urbane}}

{{Pages liées}}
{{Pages liées}}
[[fr:Ferme le Petit Fellah]]