Morocco: record grain harvest in 2009

The 2009 cereal harvest will be exceptional, with 102 million quintals, or 69% more than a normal year with abundant rainfall, said Tuesday the Minister of Agriculture Aziz Akhenouch.

•     The 2009 harvest will be plentiful, even excellent. This is very good news awaited by all Moroccans, he said at the opening of the 2nd conference of Agriculture in Meknes (center).
  
      The Minister recalled that Morocco had launched in 2008 in a very ambitious agricultural policy, called the ‘Green Plan.’ This first year (2008) was marked by investments of 12 billion dirhams (about 1 billion euros), he said.
  
      These investments have included projects on livestock, grain crops, fruits and olives, said Akhenouch.
  
      We will accelerate the implementation of this plan for which King Mohammed VI has a special interest, he added.
  
      Audience on Agriculture takes place on the eve of the opening of the International Fair of Agriculture, also in Meknes.
  
  Ennaharonline/ M. O.