Plant Organic Fruit Trees with African Farmers

Ramadan Kareem on behalf of the High Atlas Foundation!

Here at HAF, we are busy with obtaining organic certification for Moroccan agricultural products. Agricultural products marketed through a new social enterprise, High Atlas Agricutlure and Artisanal (HA3), will generate increased income for marginalized populations in Morocco and create a multiplied return.  These organic, fair-trade, environmentally sustainable, and socially responsible products will empower rural Moroccans while simultaneously improving their access to clean drinking water and education through reinvestment.

The Organic Fruit Tree and Medicinal Herb Nurseries project is especially pertinent to the progress of HA3. The demand for organic and fair-trade agriculture has come directly from rural Moroccans, who wish to break the cycle of subsistence agriculture. The medicinal herb nurseries will especially help to empower women, who will manage the nurseries. During Ramadan, HAF plans to incorporate the participatory development method into nursery management plans and begin training community members in Ouaouizerth, Ait Mhamed, and Tifnoute. Plans for tree-planting and irrigation systems are underway, and with the harvest soon approaching, the need for organic certification becomes increasingly important.

To hear more about HA3, and this new exciting chapter in HAF, view a message from HAF’s president, Yossef Ben-Meir here. Organic certification benefits not only the local communities, but reinvests in Morocco’s agriculture, environment, and education.

On February 12-13, HAF Director of Development, Aicha Galef, represented HAF at Agora MedSpring brokerage event in Cairo, Egypt. There she presented HAF’s innovate social enterprise, High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal (HA3). HA3 was chosen as one of 15 idea carriers from throughout the Mediterranean region and was given the opportunity to pitch its sustainable and eco-friendly business model to a group of researchers, experts, and investors, resulting in the creation of new partnerships for the success of this agribusiness startup. With a strong focus on food, water, and energy, this event celebrated creative solutions to the challenges that face Mediterranean nations including environmental protection, food security, and water conservation.

HA3 received great feedback for its social enterprise structure based on securing organic certification to increase farmer incomes and to create revenue for community development projects. The brokerage event sought to provide a venue for civil society members, government representatives, and research institutions to connect and increase collaboration.  Aicha had the opportunity to speak with young entrepreneurs and innovative thinkers from throughout the Mediterranean region.

HA3 is expected to benefit greatly from new partnerships formed at the Agora MedSpring event. Dynamic partnerships and inter-sectoral cooperation will help overcome some of the most challenging obstacles to environmental conservation and food security. The HA3 social enterprise will confront these challenges throughout rural Morocco by reinvesting profits from the sale of organic walnuts and almonds into human development projects that benefit the community, such as in education, health, and women and youth empowerment.