Final Report Activities, Findings and Conclusions of the Range Management Improvement Project 608-0145 Morocco
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FINAL REPORT ACTIVITIES, FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE RANGE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT 608-0145 MOROCCO I Range Science Department USAID Ministere de 1 Agriculture C Utah State University et de la Reforme Agraire, Logan, Utah La Direction de llElevage August ,1986 TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT DESCRIPTION: THE RANGE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AS AN INSTITUTION BUILDING PROJECT ....... 1 Applied Research ................... 2 Extension Program Development ............. 4 Training ....................... 5 The Plant Materials Center .............. 5 PROJECT SUMMARY: MAJOR FINDINGS. RECOMMENDATIONS AND . CONCLUSIONS ................... 7 Applied Research .Range Forage Production ...... 8 Applied Research .Range Livestock Production .... 12 Applied Research .Sociology ............. 16 Applied Research .Range Economics .......... 18 Program Development .Extension ...... ; ..... 21 Training ....................... 22 The Plant Materials Center .............. 23 CHAPTER ONE: APPLIED RESEARCH .. RANGE FORAGE PRODUCTION . 25 Introduction ..................... 26 Identification of Major Forage Resources: Beni Mellal . 27 Identification of Major Forage Resources: Midelt ... 31 Identification of Major Forage Resources: Oujda .... 33 Identification of Major Forage Recources: Timahdite . 40 Forage Production A1ternatives ............ 43 Results and Conclusions of Adaptability Trials by Site 45 Seeding and Planting Techniques ............ 52 Land Treatments .................... 59 Deferment from Grazing ................ 67 Forage Quality of Annual Vegetation .......... 69 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 72 CHAPTER TWO: APPLIED RESEARCH .. RANGE LIVESTOCK PRODUCTION 77 Introduction ..................... 78 Current Livestock Management Practices: Midelt .... 82 Current Livestock Management Practices: Azrou ..... 93 Current Livestock Management Practices: Beni Mellal . 101 Alternative Livestock Management Practices ...... 104 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 118 CHAPTER THREE: APPLIED RESEARCH .. SOCIOLOGY ....... 127 Introduction ..................... 128 Sample Selection: El Faija .............. 130 Characterization of Producers: El Faija ........ 131 Assessment of Producer Resource Sets: El Faija .... 132 Timahdite ....................... 147 Sample Selection ................... 147 Characterization of Producers: ~imahdite....... 147 Assessment of Producer Resource Sets: Timahdite .... 149 Ait Rbaa ....................... 162 Sample Selection ................... 162 Characterization of Producers: Ait Rbaa ........ 162 Assessment of Producer Resource Sets: Ait Rbaa .... 165 Ain Beni Mathar .................... 174 Characterization of Producers: Ain Beni Mathar .... 174 Assessment of Producer Resource Sets: Ain Beni Mathar . 177 Summary of Model Production Units: Ain Beni Mathar . 179 Assessment of Producer Perceptions of Current Production Systems ....................... 188 Assessment of Producer Expectations .......... 191 Assessment of Producer Perceptions of Needs. Limitations. Issues and Opportunities .............. 192 Assessment of Social and Cultural Influences on Livestock and Crop Production and the Acceptance of New Technology ..................... 194 CHAPTER FOUR: APPLIED RESEARCH .. ECONOMICS ........ 199 Introduction ..................... 200 Results ........................ 202 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 224 Literature Cited ................... 226 CHAPTER FIVE: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT .. EXTENSION ...... 227 Introduction ..................... 228 Summary of Information and Development into Livestock Production System Models for Identification of Intervention Opportunities ............. 228 Extension Program: Direct Interventions ....... 228 Extension Program: Teaching Revegetation Techniques and Animal Husbandry .................. 235 Development of Extension Materials .......... 241 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 242 CHAPTER SIX: TRAINING ................... 245 Introduction ..................... 246 Long-term Degree Training............... 246 Short-term Training .................. 246 Administrative Short Course .............. 248 In-country Seminars .................. 248 Professional Meetings ................. 249 Computer Training Seminars .............. 253 Sheep Selection Training at Oujda and Safi ...... 253 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 253 CHAPTER SEVEN: PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT .SEED PRODUCTION ... 255 Introduction ..................... 256 Development at the PMC ................ 257 Results ........................ 262 On-site Nursery Operation by the Oujda Office ..... 264 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 267 CHAPTER EIGHT: PHYSICAL RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT ....... 269 Introduction ..................... 270 Project Commodities .................. 270 Plant Materials Center ................ 271 Informational Resources ................ 274 Construction ..................... 277 Microcomputer Room .................. 279 Conclusions and Recommendations ............ 281 APPENDICES ......................... 283 Appendix A: Project Staff and Contributers ...... 284 Appendix B: List of Abbrevations Used ......... 287 Appendix C: Arabic Words Used in the Text ....... 288 Appendix D: Documents Written by Project Personnel and Available in the DE/SP Library ........... 289 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: THE RANGE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT PROJECT AS AN INSTITUTION BUILDING PROJECT BACKGROUND The Range Management Improvement Project (RMIP) (USAID Project #608-0145) began in March 1981 and ended in August 1986. The project was implemented by Utah State University (USU) under a host country contract with the Direction de llElevage (DE) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Reform (MARA), and was directed at strengthening the institutional capability of the Service de llAmenagement et de la Mise en Valeur des Terrains de Parcours (DE/SP). The RMIP was designed to assist in the planning and implementation of extension programs in range management and range livestock improvement. The specific goal was to improve both livestock production and production efficiency and thereby increase the incomes of Moroccan livestock producers. The first project evaluation was carried out in January 1984 and, based on the need for quantified information and recommendations of the evaluation team, resulted in various changes in the project design. A more concretely defined strategy emerged and the RMIP management structure was reorganized to ensure improved coordination. The redesigned project consisted of four components: * applied research, * extension, long- and short-term training, and * the development of a Plant Haterials Center (PHC). Project activities were centered in five provincial offices of the Service de llElevage: Beni Mellal, Meknes, Midelt, Oujda and El Jadida. The geographic location of these sites of field activity are indicated on the map of northern Morocco presented as Figure 1. RMIP COMPONENT ONE: Applied Research It had become obvious in the early years of project implementation that it was necessary to undertake certain research tasks in order to develop a credible extension and range management program. DE/SP effectiveness depended upon further developing the capability to plan, implement and evaluate research efforts and to utilize the research results. In order to assist the DE/SP in meeting information needs, the RMIP applied research activities focused on: evaluating current production systems, analyzing production problems, * identifying viable production alternatives, and * determining methods of informa tion transfer that would assure acceptance of superior alternatives. Specifically, evaluating and analyzing current production systems and problems involved: * identifying the sources and seasonal availability of livestock feed and forage including natural vegetation, fallow, crop residues and supplemental feeds, and * estimating production parameters, estimates of total livestock production and production efficiency by level of management. Identifying viable production alternatives included: * estimating current and alternative livestock/crop production costs and returns, * assessing potential alternatives including the seeding of marginal cropland and selected range sites, manipulating the soil surface to enhance moisture infiltration and grazing management, and * balancing animal nutritional requirements with available forage and feeds, culling and selection programs and synchronization and timing of lambing. Determining acceptance of superior a1ternatives involved: * identifying producer perceptions of resource availability and the current production system, and * determining the social and cultural ramifications for technological production alternatives. Models of the current livestock and forage production systems in the various zones were needed in order to gain more complete understanding of production problems and to provide means of simulating the effects of production alternatives. Through the research effort the project strengthened the ability of DE/SP staff to improve range management practices and assure active producer participation. RMIP COMPONENT TWO: Extension The RMIP applied research program was designed to create the basis of a functional extension program. Extension program development relied on: * developing audience profiles from the stratification of the producer population, * assessing production and profit estimates of current production systems by audience, and * identifying intervention opportunities and potential