Strengthening food security through Moroccan-Sahel cooperation

The Malian minister of environment, sanitation, and sustainable development, Doumbia Mariam Tangara, has emphasized that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco's collaboration with Sahel countries, particularly Mali, has significantly improved food security in these regions and bolstered community resilience against the impacts of climate change.

"This cooperation between Morocco and Sahel countries is truly beneficial, and we fully support it. It also further solidifies the relationships between Mali and Morocco, in the spirit of sustainable development and environmental protection," the Malian minister stated in an interview with MAP during the second edition of the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm, which concluded its sessions in Ouarzazate on Friday.

Reflecting on the importance of this international congress and the necessity of strengthening regional alliances for the preservation and enhancement of oasis ecosystems, Ms. Doumbia Mariam Tangara remarked that this gathering serves as an opportunity to "materialize and share knowledge. It also facilitates the strengthening of cooperation at the state level and harmonizes policies surrounding oases."

"This enables Mali to engage in the dynamics of strengthening ecosystems and advancing sustainable development concerning climate change adaptation," she underscored.

When asked about the intention to create a Sahel-Saharan platform dedicated to the development of palm cultivation, the Malian minister expressed her country’s full commitment to support this initiative, highlighting that this project aligns with a resilience strategy for ecosystems, particularly oases, while promoting capacity building, technology transfer, and sustainable agriculture.

Under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the International Congress on Oases and Date Palm provided a platform to discuss the complex challenges related to oasis development, emphasizing cooperation and international openness.

This congress, initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, was themed "Resilience and adaptation of oasis ecosystems in the face of climate change." It allowed for an assessment of progress in developing oasis spaces and examined opportunities and potentials for integrated agricultural development, particularly within the date palm sector.