- Opening hours: Mon. to Fri. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
It is a true tour of Morocco of local products deeply rooted in the popular culture of their regions of origin that the first regional fair of local products, organised by the DRA in Fez from 28 November to 2 December around the theme "Local products and their participation in the development of the local economy", proposes. This meeting should lead visitors on the path of flavours, know-how, and authentic products brought by producers representing 30 Agricultural Professional Organisations (OPA), including 12 regional and 18 national ones. "These participants will exhibit a range of products, notably honey, oils (olive oil, argan oil, and aromatic and medicinal plants), dates, rose products, olives, figs, plums, cactus, and couscous. At the same time, an institutional stand of the Fez-Boulemane DRA will be made available to visitors for ample information concerning the agricultural sector in the region," indicates the Fez-Boulemane DRA. It is also a question of improving the reputation of typical local products of Fez-Boulemane, which carry the history and customs of the land that saw them born.
It is exactly 22 products defined by a study for the identification of local products of the region launched in 2010 by the Fez-Boulemane DRA. And this, with the objective of developing a plan for their development. "This study, conducted in partnership with a consulting firm, took place in three phases. The first allowed for the identification and characterisation of local products, the delimitation of the terroirs of their production, and the determination of the level of organisation of the sector's actors. The second allowed for the analysis of the value chains of the main local products, while the last phase resulted in the development of a regional plan for the development of the local products sector, accompanied by an implementation plan," it is specified at the DRA. In more detail, the first phase made it possible to highlight the Fez caper, the Fez chaâri fig, L'Mta olive oil and olives, Sebou mint, Azzaba olive oil and table olives, Immouzzer Kandar endives, Sefrou cherries, Tafegight apples, Ribat Al Khair saffron, Outat El Haj olive oil, Missour turnips, Meslagh watermelons, Sefrou-Boulemane honey, Missour truffles, Guigou onions, Beni Guil lamb, Timahdit lamb, Zgan tomatoes, aromatic and medicinal plants, Boulemane goat meat, Guigou potatoes, and Missour peaches. The results of the second phase allowed, for their part, the selection of 8 priority and potential local products for a labelling process. These products are the Fez caper, the Fez chaâri fig, L'Mta olive oil, Azzaba olive oil, Azzaba table olives, Sefrou-Boulemane honey, Outat El Haj olive oil, and Tafegight apples. And, in fine, the results of phase 3 propose an organisation and structuring scheme by priority sector, then a definition of initial investments and cross-functional support programmes by sector, to lead to the development of a regional plan for the development of the local products sector. Also, this study presents, still according to the Regional Directorate of Agriculture, project offers for each selected local product, two of which were retained and validated for the 2013 financial year, within the framework of the Pillar 2 projects of the Fes-Boulemane Regional Agricultural Plan.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries has developed a national strategy for the development of local products since 2009, included in the Green Morocco Plan. This is based on the consolidation and development of specific knowledge of local products, the valorisation of the "Morocco Local Products" offer through the diversification and intensification of production, regulation, organisation, and encouragement of the sector through the preparation of an adequate framework and the animation of the sector while creating positive synergies with other sectors and the preservation of resources and their sustainable management. The construction of the "terroir approach" in the national context also passes through five issues: identity, economic, cultural and biological diversity, appropriation by local actors, and sustainable development. At the same time, a legal framework for quality signs has been effective since 2008 for labelling in agriculture: this is Law 25-06 relating to distinctive signs of origin and quality of agricultural products, foodstuffs, and fishery products. The signs covered by this law are three in number: the Agricultural Label (LA), the Geographical Indication (IG), and the Designation of Origin (AO).
-* 22 products are defined by a study launched in 2010 by the Regional Directorate of Agriculture of Fez-Boulemane for the identification of local products of the region.
-* 8 priority and potential local products selected for a labelling process.
-* 2 projects were retained and validated for the 2013 financial year, within the framework of the Pillar 2 projects of the Fes-Boulemane Regional Agricultural Plan.
Provider / Source : Rachida Bami, Le Matin
