Plant Organic Fruit Trees with African Farmers

Moroccan farmers just finished planting all across Morocco—and HAF had a bigger role in planting and supporting Moroccan farmers this year than ever before, in schools and in nurseries, including those on land donated by the Jewish community.

One nursery that has been active in benefiting farmers is the HAF nursery in Tadamount, established as a partnership between HAF and the High Commission of Waters and Forests of Al Haouz Province. Last month, HAF distributed 37,000 trees from the nurseries, and throughout the year, we have planted 200,000 trees at the nursery. The surrounding communes of Ourika, Oukaimden, Setti Fatma, Asni, Imegdal, Ouirguane, and Tameslouht are all part of the value chain HAF creates by allowing the communities to take the lead in developing the nursery. 

In addition to coordinating walnut production with villages in the surrounding regions, the High Atlas Foundation also supports training stakeholders in the organic process: how to manage nurseries, how to build partnerships, and how to find an alternative to subsistence farming that empowers and supports rural communities.

At a walnut processing facility in Asni, HAF is further extending the value chain by creating a link between rural communities and a broader market. HAF has brought on a volunteer to assist with generating publicity for the initiative with Moroccan companies, and High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal, or HA3, the social enterprise created by High Atlas Foundation, is investing in organic certification so that the walnuts can be sold in the United States.

From all of us at the High Atlas Foundation, we extend best wishes for health and all good things. HAF has experienced great success in 2014, and we wish nothing but the same for you in 2015. 

Morocco’s model for human development creates enormous possibility for our participatory approach and organic agricultural value-chain, and for the entire region. 

This past quarter, HAF has entered into partnerships with the High Commission of Waters and Forests, municipalities, schools, universities, associations (including the Jewish community of Morocco), cooperatives and families - all have lent land for at least five years to establish community tree nurseries. 

Starting from next month, we are scheduled to export to the United States 14 tons of organic certified walnuts from the High Atlas Mountains. In January 2014, HAF planted its one millionth seed in Morocco. With our full value chain is in place, we may - Insha’Allah - achieve much greater scale.

In 2015, HAF and communities propose that together we plant a total of four million seeds and saplings of 12 types of fruit trees and more than 20 aromatic plant varieties - all of which may receive internationally recognized organic certification. This can be achieved at a total cost of $2.5 million, with a resulting direct impact on 200,000 rural inhabitants and an indirect one benefiting a further 40,000. 

We hope with all our heart that we may receive your support to plant this season. Every dollar enabled HAF to plant its first million trees. For additional updates from HAF please see here. 

Sincerely, 

Jacqueline

Links:

• Read A letter from HAF's President, Dr Yossef Ben-Meir