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GOOD PRACTICE

Empowering women through olive tree planting: a socio-environmental regeneration initiative in Morocco

Morocco

Period

2011 - in progress

In the Rif mountains of northern Morocco, marginalised communities face the challenges of poverty, isolation and environmental degradation. In partnership with the GIE and PUR project, the Femmes du Rif cooperative initiated the planting of olive trees following the 2008 fires. This initiative has increased olive oil production, diversified income sources and improved local food recognition. The success lies in collective planting efforts, quality control, and strategic marketing, ensuring long-term viability.

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Identification needs

Located in the north of Morocco, the douars of the mountainous region (Rif) are difficult to access, the soil is poor and the farms are very small. The douars are isolated, with low agricultural incomes, limited access to basic services (water, health, education...) and recurrent droughts.The cultivation of fruit, particularly olive trees, and the production of olive oil represent a viable alternative to regenerate the socio-environmental ecosystem.

Stakeholder change

After the fires of 2008, which particularly affected the women of the Nefzi cooperative (burned olive fields), the GIE, in partnership with PUR Projet, wanted to launch an olive tree planting project to increase the production capacity of olives and olive oil. This type of olive tree was chosen because it's long-lived, resistant to harsh climate conditions and guarantees a constant income thanks to the marketing of olive oil with the GIE Femmes du Rif.

Change triggered

Thanks to the planting of olive trees, the Femmes du Rif cooperatives have been able to produce a very good quality olive oil. The women have also expressed a desire to plant fruit trees: plums, figs and pomegranates. This has helped to improve food sovereignty in the villages, diversify production activities (reducing the risks associated with climatic hazards, which are very problematic in the region) and combat soil erosion thanks to better land use, which is also very useful for preserving local biodiversity. This has had significant social consequences, such as better education for their children, improved infrastructure and even the promotion of some members to political positions at regional and national level.

Short description

The species chosen for the start of the project was the Moroccan Picholine, and the olive trees were planted collectively on the women's plots. It is sometimes necessary to walk several kilometres to reach the planting site. The GIE coordinates the downstream activities: harvesting, crushing, packaging, marketing and communication. The quality obtained is very good, the olive oil is classified as extra virgin or virgin and the GIE has also obtained organic certification. The oil is packaged in stainless steel tanks that meet very strict standards and then bottled (glass) on site at the time of sale. The GIE sells its oil in the fair trade and organic sectors in France, but also on the local market, where the women of the Rif benefit from an excellent reputation. The marketing of olive oil, in a context of high prices and strong demand for high quality olive oil, is a condition for the sustainability of the project.

#Climate change adaptation