{"id":1699,"date":"2018-08-30T16:03:21","date_gmt":"2018-08-30T14:03:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/didouqen.com\/?p=1699"},"modified":"2021-04-29T13:45:26","modified_gmt":"2021-04-29T13:45:26","slug":"it-all-begins-with-the-community-a-site-visit-to-azilal-province","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-haf.ddev.site\/it-all-begins-with-the-community-a-site-visit-to-azilal-province\/","title":{"rendered":"It All Begins with the Community: A Site Visit to Azilal Province"},"content":{"rendered":"
It was well past nine by the time we rumbled through the city to pick up Abderrahim. The streets of the medina were only just waking up from their Sunday morning snooze, but HAF\u2019s Project Manager had been up since six. He hopped in the front seat of the taxi, passing back loaves of warm barley bread to the four of us scrunched into the back seat. \u00a0We were happy to accept; it would be a long ride to Azilal province.<\/p>\n
It is summer already in Marrakech. The city echoes with the slapping of thousands of sandals on hot pavement. People congregate at night in the cool parks, squares and caf\u00e9s, sipping juices, feeding pigeons and chatting. But outside of the city the change in season takes on a larger significance. As we drive, we see on either side of the road small groups of men and women harvesting golden fields of wheat, scything the long grass with steady rhythm. The barley harvest has also begun, and the markets are already filled with fresh apricots, peaches, melons and plums. In a country where more than 45% of the labor force works in agriculture; the harvest is a matter of the utmost environmental, cultural and economic importance.<\/p>\n
We drive north along a dusty road for a couple of hours before we stop at a roadside caf\u00e9. As we dip our bread in olive oil, honey and amlou \u2013 a nut paste mixed with argan oil \u2013 we discuss the agricultural system that produced our breakfast. What does it take to grow almonds, walnuts, and olives in the mountains of Azilal province? Why these crops? Encouraging fruit tree cultivation over grain or livestock production can be challenging, but the environmental and economic benefits, can be enormous. Today we\u2019ll be seeing HAF\u2019s methodology in action, visiting a tree nursery and seeing the beginnings of participatory planning in a local community. With the launch of HA3, the High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal enterprise developed to connect farmers with organic markets domestically and abroad, these nuts and oils will mean increased family incomes and reinvestment in community development. But it all begins with the trees.<\/p>\n