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Objectives
The main objectives of the project were to:
- increase sustainable production from rangelands and livestock;
- reverse rangeland degradation;
- increase herder incomes; and
- improve the living conditions of the most impoverished households.
 The
main focus of the project was on improving and sustaining rangeland productivity
through focusing on common management. The formation of self-organized
range users' groups was encouraged and promoted as a means of ensuring
both beneficiary participation and sustainability. Other components included
research, extension and development, credit and training.
Outcome
In overall terms the project was successful in implementing
the main components, apart from the credit component which was intended
specifically for small herders. Thus it organised the closing off of almost
461 000 ha of rangeland (or 61%) of the target), planted close to 14 500
ha of fodder shrubs, provided health care for between 800 000 and 900
000 sheep and goats per year, and rehabilitated or installed over 60 watering
points. However, its main achievement lies in the dynamics it created
within rural society, with the formation of 44 pastoral cooperatives as
against the 33 initially envisaged.
Organizations
and people
Prior to appraisal, there were approximately 20 cooperatives
in the project area. According to the appraisal report, these
cooperatives — developed since 1970 — formed a cornerstone
of the Government’s strategy to encourage development
of the rural areas through the formation of producer groups.
The Government offered the cooperatives incentives, including
tax exemptions that were higher than those of individual herders
and farmers. In one area, the setting up of a cooperative led
to conflict with other herders with regard to 10 000 ha of land
granted by the Government. During the life of the project, the
cooperatives were the only formal and legal way whereby rural
producers could organize themselves. It is reported that they
were generally made up of small groups of relatively well-off
herders who tried to take advantage of government subsidies.
As a result, the promotion of cooperatives did much for the
development of rural infrastructure.
The new cooperatives to be formed with project assistance
were meant to encourage the formation of groups with a more
heterogeneous membership to reflect the larger herder population.
The cooperatives were also intended to have rules to promote
consensus in areas such as the improvement and sustainable management
of rangelands. At appraisal, it was expected that the cooperatives
would be largely responsible for regulating rangeland management.
ooperatives would be largely responsible for regulating rangeland
management.
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| Planned
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Achieved |
| Set up 33 pastoral
cooperatives, among other things, to initiate activities concerning
prophylaxis and provide other services to the members, especially
regarding the delivery of animal feed and marketing of wool and
meat. |
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The project setup
44 cooperatives with almost 8600 members. Buildings were constructed
and handed over, and training sessions held. A survey of 40 cooperatives
distinguished two major groups. Those that had a chance of survival,
of which there were 18 (or 46%) with about 60% of the members,
and those that were having serious difficulties and were in danger
of disappearing if rehabilitation measures were not taken, of
which there were 17 (or 41%). The main reason for these differences
is related to the financial viability of the cooperatives which
requires diversification of their income sources, such as in livestock
health services, marketing, the supply of livestock feed, processing
etc. Despite the differences in the viability of the cooperatives
and their capacity to assume responsibility for range management,
there is a general agreement that they have been a great success.
They are evidence of the increased awareness of the region’s
herders and farmers of the need to ensure that pastoral resources
are rationally used and to adopt practises that will preserve
the rangelands.
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Access
to inputs and infrastructure
| Planned |
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Achieved |
Provide credit to
the poorer herders, who would use it for restocking after drought
and for the purchase of inputs aimed at increasing animal production.
Improve the network of water points (boreholes, tanks and mobile
tanker supplies), water supply being an important factor that
often affects the choice of where animals are grazed. Rehabilitate
10 wells and 50 cisterns, and install or build new water points
(50 cisterns, five wells, three boreholes and approximately
19 sondage). Increase water transport capacity by providing
a truck with a 4 000-litre carrying capacity to the cooperatives.
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The credit component
was not implemented due to problems in identifying a suitable
implementing institution.
The project facilitated the formation of water users' associations
at the communal level. This was not explicitly planned at appraisal,
but it is likely to lead to increased water point sustainability.
Over 60 watering points were either installed or rehabilitated,
consequently improving the small herders’access to water.,
with the average distance to be travelled for water reduced
by 48%.
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Risk
management
| Planned
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Achieved
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| Encourage women to
engage in income-generating activities by providing credit and
training. |
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Due to problems in
identifying a suitable implementing institution, the credit
component was not implemented. |
Rangeland resources
| The principal
objective of the project was to improve pasture productivity
through improved management. Major problems in the project area
included over-grazing, localized overstocking and poor nutritional
status of animals, especially in the dry season.
The project area is generally arid with an annual rainfall of
about 200mm, but with significant inter- and intra-annual variations.
The traditional range management system is largely based on
seasonal transhumance.
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| Planned
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Achieved
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| Introduce a coordinated
grazing rotation system to encompass all 3 million ha of the
project area. The purpose here was to encourage, as far as possible,
efficient use of the different types of rangeland available,
so as to ensure their maintenance and increase forage production.
This rotation system was to be introduced in a phased manner
and coordinated initially by the cooperatives within their respective
areas of influence. After an unspecified period of time, the
cooperatives were to form a council to coordinate animal movements
across the entire project area.
Plant bush fodder over 3 200 ha; re-seed 20 000 ha; scarify
59 000 ha (19 000 ha to be re-seeded with local species); and
impose a two-year land resting period over a total area of 750
000 ha.
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Bans on grazing in
certain areas was the key approach that increased fodder production
and allowed better control of the use of pastoral resources.
The first biological monitoring showed an increase in ground
and above ground cover and in the number of leafy species (with
the level of dry matter increasing from 150 to 800 kg/ha). Problems
were observed in the supervision of fenced-off areas, conflicts
over the boundaries of ranges and the types of sanction levied
for violation. The goal of sustainable development of the pastures
was apparently unattainable at the time of project closure,
as the numbers of livestock were higher than the carrying capacity
of the ranges.
461 000 ha of land have been fenced (61% of the the target)
and 14 500 ha of fodder shrubs have been planted. The lack of
drought in the project area in the first years up to 1996, reduced
the pressure on herders to exploit the range resources and contributed
to the good rate of this activity’s implementation. However,
the last years of the project the rainfall deficit lead to a
general degradation of the rangeland and the Government set
up a special programme whose main activity was the distribution
of subsidised feed. This maintained too many livestock in the
draught stricken area and had adverse effects on rangeland.
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Livestock production
| Planned |
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Achieved |
| Upgrade local animals and provide genetic improvement
services to herders.
Train 600 professionals (mostly animal health
workers and herders) in better management techniques and herd
nutrition, based on the results of the research and development
component.
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The sheep breed selection programme has gone forward relatively
successfully, with the National Sheep Breeders’ Association
laying the foundations for larger-scale adoption of upgraded
sires and rams.
The MTE report stated that insufficient animal health assistants
had been trained, partly due to professional opposition. Nevertheless,
by project closure the fertility rate was improved (by about
10 points) and the mortality rate declined (from 6% to 2%
between 1989 and 1999.)
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Livestock health
| Planned |
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Achieved |
| Implement a prophylaxis and treatment programme for herd diseases;
provide veterinary products to herders; provide office accommodation
and vehicles. |
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The project improved the facilities available to the veterinary
services and ensured the logistic support needed for sheep vaccination
campaigns. In 1992-94, the number of animals treated against
internal parasites increased from 511 000 to 778 000, from a
total herd of 929 000. At project closure it was estimated that
health care was provided for between 800 000 and 900 000 sheep
and goats per year. |
Lessons learned
- The successful introduction of any large-scale grazing rotation
system depends on a good understanding of the circumstances influencing
access to rangelands and of the complex grazing patterns. In this
case, it was assumed that cooperatives formed along ethnic lines
would have control over specific areas, thus allowing coordination
for systematic grazing. However, it was discovered that pastures
in the project area had complex and multiple user rights.
- Greater consideration should be given to the question of sustainability
at the project planning stage.
- The role of the state in organization and implementation should
be less important than that of the beneficiaries themselves.
- Appropriate land tenure legislation is crucial to range management.
- Targeting the poorest requires careful design of project activities.
Associations tend to be dominated by richer members and institutions
are reluctant to provide credit where they see a greater risk of
default. The poor herders were facing cash flow difficulties over
paying for supplementary livestock feed during the drought and their
lack of access to credit might have exasperated their vulnerable
condition. It was estimated that the profit margins for animal production
increased during the project for large herders, while they declined
for the small ones.
- The successful training and functioning of community animal health
workers depends largely on the cooperation of professional veterinarians.
Best practice: Much of the success
of the project was attributed to the commitment of the Government
of Morocco, the support of local authorities and the commitment of
the local population who worked together to overcome the administrative
obstacles that the Project Management Unit faced. Good cooperation
was achieved and sustained because the project interventions were
demand driven, and the local population’s views were taken into
account.
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| Project information |
Total
project cost: USD 45.2 million, Livestock cost (as percentage
of total): 74%.
Duration: The project started in May 1991 and closed
in December 2001 after a two year extension.
The project area, which covers 3.2 millions ha in the
communes of Bouarfa and Tendrara (Province of Figuig) El Ateuf, Merija,
Ain Beni Mathar and Ouled Sidi Abdelhakim (Province of Oujda) is the most
important pastoral region in Eastern Morocco. The area is characterized
by a lack of employment opportunities, low education rate, under-use of
the health facilities explained by the large distances separating the
facilities from most of the pastoralists, and the absence of an adequate
drinking water supply.
The climate is arid, with an average rainfall of 210 mm per year somewhat
higher in the north (300 mm) and lower in the south (120 m), which falls
in autumn and spring with high variability from one year to another.
Beneficiaries: The beneficiaries were 9 000-10 700 herder families making
collective use of pasture areas in the eastern region of Morocco. At appraisal,
it was intended that priority should be given to the most impoverished
herders, estimated to constitute 59% of the herder population but owning
only 15% of the herd.
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