Conservation agriculture in dry areas of Morocco

Moroccan agriculture is characterized by the co-existence of both modern and smallholder traditional agriculture. Both types of agriculture are under degradative processes due to mis-use of tillage implements, mis-management of crop residues and inappropriate links between grain and livestock productions. From the research conducted over the last three decades, the vast majority of beneficial tillage effects are transient. Conversely, the harmful effects of conventional tillage (CT) systems are long-lasting, if not permanent. The present paper aims at evaluating major achievements in conservation or no-tillage agriculture (CA or NT) research conducted in dry areas of Morocco and presenting important ways to implement these achievements within the Moroccan rural society. CA has been introduced in response to issues of soil conservation, drought mitigation and soil quality management. NT systems have resulted in reduced soil erosion, greater soil water conservation, improved soil quality and stable and higher crop yields. Changes in crop production practices due to shifting to NT or CA systems and retention of crop residues at or near the surface produced progressive qualitative and quantitative variations in soil organic matter. This can allow agriculture to contribute to country's efforts to reduce and control greenhouse gas emissions. These effects benefited both farmers and society in terms of higher returns and efficiencies. Under NT, benefits from improved agriculture's environmental performance must be added to remunerations of reducing costs of production and improving well-being of farmers. The other strong benefits that CA brings come from the opportunity for early sowing and savings in time, machinery and fuel. Even though, many agronomic, socio-economic and environmental benefits accrue from NT and increasing crop diversity; lack of incentives from the government and social factors encourage the continued use of CT systems. CA systems were sufficiently tested in research stations but found limited adoption in farm communities. The shift in the late nineties to more on-farm research did not result in the envisaged breakthroughs, mainly due to poor research-extension linkages and several social and technical barriers. Consequently, in order to realize durable agricultural growth, there is a huge challenge to out- and up-scale CA in Morocco through linkage of all stakeholders (farmers, developers, researchers, industrials and policy makers). This paper fulfills information gaps and presents a thorough discussion on constraints to CA adoption as well.