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This report was prepared for use within' the-Bank and its affiliated organiza'tions.They do not accept responsibility for its accuracy or completeness. The report may

not be published nor- may it be quoted as representing their views.

INTERN,ATIONAL BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION -AND DEVELOPMIENT

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT~ ASSOCIATriON"

LIVESTOCK REVIEW

MOROCCO

r/b 3 16

Novembr2,16

Projects Department

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CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS

us$1 -5 06 DirhamsDh. 1 US $0. 1976

- Dh. 1, 000, 000 =US,$197.,600

UNIT EQUIVALENTS,,

1 square kilometre 0.386 square mi'les,I hectare (ha.) 2'. 47].acresI millimeter-(m".~ I=0. 394 inchesIllitre - 0. 264 U. S. gallons &N

1 kilo'gram (Kg.) =~ 2. 2 0,5 p our d s

M 0 R 0 C C 0

LIVESTOCK REVIEI

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page No,.

SUIMI41ARYi

I. INTRODUCTION 1

II. BACKGROUND -.

III. THFB EXISTING LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY 2

IV. SUPPORTING SERVICES !

V. POTENTIALS FOR DEVELOPMT 7

Policy Issues 7-Heat Production 8Milk Production 10

VI. CREDIT 11

VII. CONCLUSIONS 12

NOTE

This report is based on the findings of a mission in February,1966 to Morocco composed of Messrs. I4cNeekan (consultant), alndBourgin (of the Bank).

,.S

MO R O C C O

LIVESTOCK REVIEW

S- U M E A R Y

The Government of Morocco has requested the Bank to reviewits livestock industry, and make recommendations on improving itsproductivity.

ii. At present the majority of livestoclc are managed on anextensive basis, using rangelands unsuitable for agriculture.

iii. Substantial increases in both meat and milk production wouldbe technically feasible, based on the use of forage crops, grouan inirrigated and rain-fed areas in association Trith existing agriculturalcrops.

iv. To achieve these increases, existing institutions will needto be reorganized and strengthened by-the 'ecruitment of more experiencedlocal and expatriate personnel.

v. Since CNCA would play an important role in providing creditto livestock producers, it should be reorganized as recommended inconnection with Loan 433-MOR.

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MOROCCO

LIVESTOCK REVIDiJ

I. LITRODUCTION

At the request of the Government, the Bank sent. a Missionto MGrocco to review the livestock industry. Its objective was toprovide some guidance to the Government in the formulation and theimplementation of programs and projects for the improvement ofproduction, and to make an initial estimate of the sectors whichcould be of interest for Bank financing.

2. The Mission comprising Messrs. McMeekan (Consultant) andBourgin spent ten days in Morocco (February 5 to February 16,1966) visit-ing the most productive zones including more specially the Sidi Slimane,Tadla, MIoulouya and Doukkala irrigated areas. Due to the limitationsof time, ornly the more important problems were examined. This reportwas prepared by Messrs. McMeekan and Bourgin.

II. BACKGROUND

3. The total area of Morocco is 410,000 square kilometers(171,305 square miles), of which about 12 percent are cropped3 1.4

percent wine and fruit tree plantations, 6.4 percent temporary fallow,13 percent forest and esparto grass zones, 19 percent rangeland, withabout 40 to 42 perce-ret unusable. Total population was 13 millionin 1965; the rate of growth, presently 3.2 percent per year, isexpected to reach 3.5 percent during the next decade. Scime 90 to 95percent of the population are currently engaged in agriculturalactivities. Since agricultural production has been rising in recentyears at about 1 percent per year, there has been a decrease in theincome level in the agricultural sector, with an increase in thenumbers of unemployed or under-erfmployed people.

4. In 1964 agriculture contributed 31 percent to the grossdomestic product (GDP) estimated at Dirhams 11.2 billion (US$ 2.2billion). GDP per capita was 950 flh (US$188). Total agriculturalproduction amounted to some Dh 3.5 billion (US$691 million), withcereals accounting for about, 30 percent and animal production 38 per-cent.l/ (Dh 1,330 million, equivalent to US$263 million). Agri-cultural products represent about 55 percent of total exports andabout 40 percent of total imports.

1/ In the traditional sector, where animals are relatively moreimportant than in the "modern" sector, animal production mighthave accounted for over 50 percent of the total.

5. The climatic and ecological conditions prevailing in Mobroccoare very diverse, with Morocco bordered on the north by the MediterraneanSea, on the west by the Atlantic Ocean and on the south and east by theSahara desert and highlands. Although a large part of Mo,rocco has aMediterranean type climate with dry, hot summers and mild winters, thelarge coastal plains along the Atlantic coast benefit from the influenceof the Mediterranean and have a more even distributed rainfall pattern,with rather humid co s. Inland, the Saharian influence is feltin varying degrees. More than 20 percent of the country receives morethan 600 nm of rain. Water resources arising mainly in the Rif andAtlas mountains are abundant and are estimated as capable of irrigatingfrom 0.9 to 1.0 million hectares of land. A large part of the agri-cultural activities of the country are concentrated between theAtlantic Ocean and the Atlas mountains.

6. As a result of this varied climate, agriculture could bediversWfied to produce a wide range of crops, such as cereals (wheat,corn, sorghum, barley, rice), tree crops (citrus, olive, wine, d.ate),cash crops (cotton and other textiles, sugar beet or cane, sunflower,safflower), vegetables (early) and many kinds of fodder crops. Exist-ing local knowledge is adequate to develop diversified crops un/derirrigation and in areas of good rainfall; but it is not adequate forthe development of effective production in the arid and semi-arid zones.

III. THE EXISTING LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

7. Although in recent years the Moroccan Government has triedto prcduce reliable Etatistical livestock data< the following animalpopulation figures can only be considered as providing orders, ofmagnitude: sheep - 13.0 million; cattle - 2.6 million; goat:.3 - 5.0million- horses, mules and donkeys together - 1.6 million; csamels -0.2 million, and pigs - 0.05 million. The data suggest that there haveoeen some changes over the last 15 years. Sheep numbers appear tohave steadily increased for about 10 years, but then to have stabilized,probably due to the sho-tage of range. The number of goats hasdeclined markedly. In contrast, cattle appear to be increasing. IMIostof the animals are of indigenous breeds., hardy enough to stand theprimitive conditionis of husbandry.

8. Leaving aside the few modern private and state farms, mixedfarming is not comnonly practised. Agriculture and liveatock areapart, and it is striking to compare the extensive flocks and herdswith the forage resources of the country. Only 32,000 hecLares offodder crops are currently cultivated, the bulk of the animals beingsustained on 7,800,000 hectares of rangelands located in areasunsuitable for agriculture. These are mostly over-grazed and are

1/ Mainly by analysing the results of an animal population census,compared with data provided by investigations -nto the consumptionof animal products.

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seriously deteriorating. In szmmer and fall there are also 3 to 4million hectares of stubble, but this provides a poor suibsistenceration for livestock. Animals put on weight, from March to June andlose weight between July and Novpmber(15-20 p.rcent loss). The supplyof natural vegetation varies dramatically with the rainfall pattern,so that years of drought cause very severe losses. (In 1946, 50 per-cent of the sheep population reputedly died from starvaticn). Inthis situation, productivity per animal unit is very low.

9. It is also striking that even in irrigated areas a largeproportion of the animals is still tended independently oi irrigationfarming. It is claimed that returns from local breeds do not pay forthe cost of the forage, which in consequence is little grown. Infact the primary reascon, in well rain-fed areas, is that competitionbetween man and animals for food limits the introduction of fodaercrops in the cropping attern, so that livestbck rem8in scavengers ofmaterias unaceptable to humans. Although knowledge exists for theimprovement and better use of rangelands, nothing has been done inthis field. The uti'Lization of rangeland is very defective andconstitutes, in the medium and long-term, a real danger to the animalproduction sector and the national economy.

10. Production data are not very easy to come by becausereliable statist:ics on the numbers of animals slaughtered, on thequantity.of milk produced, and on consumption and trade are not avail-Jable. Accordring to various sources (Ministry of Agriculture, SebouProject, Bureau of Planng) the total annual production of meat(including offals, but excluding poultry) is likely to be betwqeen155,000 and 1L65,000 tons. Annual poultry production is likely to beaDout 45,000 tons of meat and 48,000 tons of eggs. Total annual Lilkproduction for human consumption is estimated at about 530 millionliters. Wool and hair production total about 15,000 tons per year andhides and skins 30,000 tons.

11. All the species yield meat, with cattle providing about 45percent of total output, sheep about 32 per.cent and goats about 14 per-cent. Meat, consumption is the same as production, since onlfy smallequal quantities of meat are imported and exported. Consumption perhead per year is about 12 Kg. As inl other Arabic countries there aregenerally no accepted standards of meat quality, except fol a verysmall amount of maeat sold in large towns b.y modern butchers. ToMoroccan consumers, meat is meai, whatever part of the beast fromwhich it is cut. Although M1oroccan people can appreciate the degreeof finish of aninm.ls, they are generally slaughtered irrespective oftheir size or condition. There is much room for irmprovement here.

12. Marketing of meat deserves m6re careful attention. Only30 percent of the output is slaughtered under the administrative andhealth control of the Ministry of Agriculture, and retailed bybutchers (whose equipment is often very primitive). There areeighteen slaughterhouses owned and operated by the municipalities.Six are modern and equipped with cold storage facilities, six aremodern without cold storage facilities, and six are old and need

rehabilitation or even reconstruction. The rural centers and villagesare equipped with covered concrete yards with facilities for killingand selling.

13. Since 1960 meat prices have been continuously increasing,indicative of a generally strong demand. Supply outstrips demand,however, during 'Jne and July. As the market is not organizedt-1o i3d this excess supply, prices fall drastically, so that manyanimals are not sold. These unsold animals probably lose weight there-after on poor pastures and stubble, and this results in a net loss tothe economry. Assuming that consumptioui per head remains the same(para. 11), it is estimated by the Moroccani Government that by 1970the annual deficit betwxeen demand and supply of meat could be about4O,C boOYtons. This forecast if substantiated could have seriousimpacts on the economy. The potentials for livestock development aresuch (see Section V of this Report) that this predicted deficit neednot become a reality.

14. The domestic productbion of milk for human consumption (530million liters per year) is derived2 from local cattle (55 percent ofoutput), sheep (10 percent) and goats (35 percent). In addition, theequivalent of about 122 million liters of fresh milk is Importedannuallv at a cost of Dh 50 million (US$10 million). Based on thesefigures, which may be o7er-esbimated, per capita consumption averagesonly 50 liters per year, which is very low by world standards.Domestic produ.ction of milk is not sufficient to meet demand duringOctober, November and December, but during March, April and May adomestic surplus is sometimnes difficult to sell and must be processedinto butter or other products. This seasonal processing is of limitedprofitability.

15. Milk marketing is partially organized, but only 16 percentis sold through commercial units with adequate processing equipment. InCasablanca, the largest town in Morocco with more than one millioninhabitants, there is a cooperative dairy plant and two private dairycorporations (Centrale Laitiere, and Sterovita), but only the CentraleLaitiere is working. The Mission was unable to obtain a clear view ofthe problems concerning the supply of milk in Casablanca, where variouisinterests conflict greatly; it concluded, however, that the positionwarranted an independent and thorough investigation. There are coopera-tive dairy plants also in Marrakesh, Kehitra and Oujda. The price ofmilk at the farm ga.te is Dh 0.45 to 0.50 per liter, with the retailprice for pasteuwized milk lying between Dh 0.8 and 1.0, giving areasonable margin to cover processing, handling, and marketing costs.

16. The wool and hair produced is processed in the country,either traditionally or in modern factories, mainly into carpets,garments and tents. The processing of hides and skins is also anactive industry, which has improved greatly of recent years.

IV, SUPPORTING SERVICES

17. In principle the Ministry of Agriculture is responsiblefor the overall planning of agriculture and livestock development,for economic studies, research and education. The OMVA (Office deMise en Valeur Agricole) is responsible under the Ministry for theimplementation and execution of projects, and, through its extensionservices, the organization of production at the farm level. Aspecialised department of the Ministry., the "Livestock and VeterinaryService'" is responsible for health control and, theoretically, fordevelopment. Research is split between this department and a ResearchInstitute (IMRAM). Within the Ministry there lis a Department ofAgricultural Edacation. Details of these organizations are given below.

18. Considering the livestock industry as a whole, its overallmanagement is confusing. However, a nucleus of individually competent

- personnel exist who could, with effective high level,administrativebacking, establish and supervise a mcre efficient animal industry.Today, in spite of the lack of personnel, thcre is too much over-lappirg and conflict between the Ministry itself and OMVA, and theirrespective services. Complete overhaul of their respective functions,responsibilities and administration is vital to the development of theanirial industry. This is specially necessary in view of the shortageof competent techrnical personnel. The country cannot afford to wastethis scarce resource. Equally there is a need to develop truly mixedfarming on all irrigated and high rainfall lands; this requires ameasure of coordination within and between state services not presentlyexisting.

19. ONVA: O01VA was created by a decree (No.2-65-lO) of May 9,1965, which merged two existing organizations, and is respons' ble forall government action programs in agriculture. The General Directorof ONVA is appoin,ted by the Minister of Agriculture and reports to him.Within OMWA, three d•Svisions are concerned with livestock:

a. The Division of Development and Exploitation isresponsible for preparing prograis and projects, andfor their supervision. This Division includes theAgricultural Planning Service within which there arean Office of Animal Production and a Veterinary Office.

b. The Division of Agricultural Intervention is responsiblefor carrying out programs and for the extension services.

c. The Division of Equipment is in charge of constructionand equipment.

OMVA also operates in the field through "Centers", both for practicaltraining (see para. 22) and for agricultural development. The Agri-cultural Development Centers are scattered all over the countryproviding advisory services and agricultural inputs to peasants. Forlivestock developnl^nt "nurserr st3ables" have been established for thepurpose of distribution of high grade cows to farmers. About 200

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breeding centers stocked with high grade bulls provide an artificialinsemination service for the progressive upgrading of local cattle.OMVA's planning for.the future provides for the recruitment of about80 livestock specialist officers or assistants.

20. The functions of the Livestock and Veterinary Service are:

1) Modernization of animal husbandry and improvement ofanimals;

2i Disease control;

3) Animal production and experimentation;

4) Diagnosis and research of infectious and parasiticdiseases;

5) Vaccine production;

6) Inspection of animal products for human consumption.

In practice the Service is mainly devoted to veterinaryactivities arnd health protection. It does not show a great interestin developing animal production, concerning which it sometimesconflicts with ONVA. In this regard, it suffers from a completeabsence of production specialists. The staff comprises 53 qualifiedveterinariaris (15 Moroccans) assisted by some 190 asAistarns or fieldofficers. Vacancies on establishment are for 15 veterinarians.

21. INRAM: The National Institute for Agronomic Research ofMorocco was in the recent past an autonomous -and very active body, withits own budget. Following a change in policy, this Institute hasbecome a Division of the Ministry of Agriculture, though the law whichcreated the Institute has not been repealed. Dle to financial diffi-culties of carrying on research 47 scientists have left the Institute.Only 12 remain. In the field of animal husbandry, a Research Center,almost fully equipped, was launched 4 years ago to cover appliedresearch on animal nutrition and animal breeding. Unfortunately, inspite of all the invre6tments made, there are no effective professionalofficers in the animal research center where at least 5 good specialistsare needed. Research on fodder croDs is the responsibility of anothersection of INRAM, but as in the field of animal husbandry, there areno-operating research officers where at least 3 specialists could befully and usefully employed.

22. Education: The Department of Agricultural Education operates5 schools:

a. The National Agricultural School in Meknes - 3 yearcourse. The French Baccalaureat cr its equivalent(7 years of secondary school) is required for entranceinto the school. Output: 30 agricultural engineersper year of "pass" degree standard.

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bo 4 technical schools - 2 year course. 4 years ofsecondary schooling are required for entrance.Output: 175 field officers per year.

In addition, OMVA operates centers for practical training of contactmen, assistant field officers (Output: 250 per year).In every school there are courses in animal, husbandry., but they areeither theoretical or too elementary (depending on the standard ofthe school). Specialist training is insufficient. The top specialistsin livestock are generally trained in France, where 24 Moroccans arecurrently receiving specialized education.

V. POTENTIALS FOR JEVELOID1VMNT

23. Ecological conditions in the arid and semi-arid regions whichcover most of the cotxitry impose a serious limitation to large scalelivestock production. However, the extensive rain-fed belts and thefour extensive irrigable areas give Mlorocco a much higher potentialthan other North African countries for forage and pasture productionand favor the development of an effective livestock industry. Whetherthis possibility is realized depends primarily upon high level policydecisions, upon the development of much more effective supportingservices and upon the education of the farmers. Some provision ofcredit to producers is also necessary.

Policy Issues

24. A national livestock development plan and program is needed.This plan should set out priorities in clear, definite terms. Of keyinportance here would be a decision not to increase the size of breed-ing flocks and herds, at least for the next decade. Such-a decision -would be based on two assumptions: firs', that the natural grazinglands are currently over-stocked and second, that the greatestpotential for immediate increases in production lies in increasingper animal output.

25. There is ample evidence that both assumptions are justified.The natural grazing areas are undoubtedly deteriorating. Theirrehabilitation may involve initial reduction of stock numbers, thoughthis could be accomplished by the transfer of stock for fattenizng tothe rain-fed and irrigated zones, rather than of breeding animals.Both plans and progrmns must allow for such transfers. Few animalstoday are fed more than a subsistence ration, often it is sub-subsistence.Through higher level feeding alone, production could not fail toincrease: local estimates of a three fold increase in meat and a fivefold increase in milk are not unrealistic.

26. The national plan must clearly decide the objectives, inparticular the relative claims of meat and milk production. Targetsfor each, geared realistically to national needs, production potentialsand organizational facilities, need to be set. Current uncertainties,particularly in milk production, need to be removed. As an aid tobetter planning, much more reliable production and consumptionstatistics are needed.

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27. The plan ru.st clearly differentiate priorities on a zonalbasis. Alt.hough the political difficulties of such decisions areappreciated, it would be unrealistic for the country to attemnpt theorganization of more efficlent livestock production on a completenational coverage basis. The problems of organization and the shortageof technical personnel alone are sufficient reasons for proceeding onlyon a relatively restricted scale. Efforts sholld not be dispersed butshould be concentrated on areas liZelry to produce the most immediateand highest rbvioiis y, the c aims- th' irgte6d "areas andof thebtteriraifed zones are of paramount imporTanRce in UIiS'contiectT6.on

28. Production implies marketing. Poor marketingarra.ngenentsrestrict development. A good example is the case of the milk producersof the Dfliuala irrigated zone; inability to sell evren the milkproduced from the existing primLitive husbandry is completely inhibitingthe production of the forage crops which are necessary to obtainenhanced yields. The current official reluctance to boost millcproduction due to saturation of the organized markels in spring months V(see para. 14) is understandable only in the light of the poor exist-ing marketing a-rangements (para. 15). 1-eat marketing is in acomparable chaotic state (para. 12). In both in1dustries the aid ofa private corp6i T xperienced in marketing livestock productsshould be sought with the objective of developing arrangements whichwill provide an incentive to producer-s to adopt modern techniques toincrease output.

29. In Morocco as in all other countries, ieoyE i4p t _ irv tL,l_>pg.5pibleon ,,VWq,ogh,e4uq4tipnofthe .farmingcommunity. Traditionally Arab farmers, while perhaps unexcel ed inachieving animal survival in most difficult environments, arenotoriously baclkward in a modern animal production sense. To change.from subsistence level producers to production level operators requireseducation and training of a type not hitherto attempted in Morocco onany scale. The existing official animal industry supporting servicesare not geared for this work. The majority of the professional staffare veterinarians, who have little training or experience in practicalanimal husbandry. Reorganization of these services is necessary.Such reorganization should involve the lop fa-nimalrather than animal hpecialists. The existing veterinary teamis auequate to handle animal health at this sbage of development.Initially, expatriate assistance is unavoidable on the animal husbandryside, but the production plan should allow for the overseas training oflocal staff to cover ultimate needs from nationals.

Meat Production

30. Here the target is simply expressed. It should be to add20-30 percent mirnimum to the meat yield of all slaughte,r SninalaThis coul be ad ved by tneiuse ofiorage crops grown on both theirrigated and rain-fed areas. It is possible to organize 180,000hectares of irrigated fodder crops (Berseem, Lucerne, Sorahin, Uorn,etc.) Rain-fed zones have at least a similar potential. With only

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half of these supplies devoted to increasing the carcass weight offattening arimals, between .0 t00 ivns ofextra -meatcould result annually, an t2 ent production.If the other half of the extra food supplies were devoted to milkproduction, a further 20,000 to 30,000 tons of beef as a by-productto dairying would accrue.

31. The current. US AID project for meat production represents astep in the right direction, and is likely to help the program outlined.This project aims at stimulating the introduction and use of foragecrops (Sudan grass and corn) on about 7,500 hectares of small farmswidely distributed throughout the country, covering both dry andirrigated land. Incentives are provided by free issues of corn forstock feeding, these issues being dependent on both the hectarageplanted and harvested for livestock. The project is most commendablein its educational potentials. It suffers.-the;draTw4back of perhaps. over-wide distribution and may lead to dif'iculties once the freeissues ofcorn are lt=hdrawn.

32. Of key importance to any national demonstration of thepotentials of better husbarndry is the role of the CGEAI( On the wihole,its organization is sound, its management comipetent and its staffqualified and hard-working. It can purchase livestock for fattening.It can markedly increase forage production on the farms under its control.It has a direct responsibility to provide an examiple to the private andtraditional sectors as to what can be done. The Government should seethat it meets this responsibility.

33. Considerable scope for increased be-ef production exists inthe private sector on large and medium sized farms. These should begiven every encouragement through the provision of technical advice and,where necessary, the provision of credit for seeds, fertilizers, simplestock buildings and cattle purchases.

34. Increased sheep meat production can be achieved by the sameapproach. Its organization, however, should be geared to the need toreduce stocks on the range lanrds. Government participation in sheepsales in June/July would permit sl aUfln a dequatecondition at that time, would avoid later losses both in weight and ofnumbers, would provide stock for further fattening on better lands, andwould simultaneously reduce grazing pressures on pastures at latercritical periods to their immediate and ultimate benefit.

l/ CGEA - Centrale de Gestion des Exploitations Agricoles - is anagency of the Ministry of Agriculture, administered within O+4A bu+,withl considerable autonomy in day-to-day operations. It hasresponsibility for the management of some 220,000 hectares of landformerly leased to European farmers and now taken over by theGovernment. CGEA is of importance to the Moroccon economy since thefarms it operates are among the most fertile in the country.

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35. Although there is much interest in Morocco in the introductionof so-called 'improved' foreign breeds, the multiplication of these byartificial insemination, and the provision of European type housing fortlheir full exploitation, this approach has little to commend it at the

suttage of of the,,, me, i industry. It should have a lowpriority insofar as meat production is concerned. Thinitito make effe &1geug fe thele. This in itselfwill tax the ingenuity and energies of producers for-a long time to come.

Milk Production

36. Seif-sufi in.ilk and milk products is not an unreason-able aim for the country.*-Increased per capita consumption should alsobe a target. There are no te6hnical or economic reasons why both shouldnot be realized.

37. Since milk returns more thai3 beef per unit of feed, and inaddition yields beef as a by-product!4 a large proportion of the foragecrop that could be obtained from irrigated land should be used by dairycows, because irrigation is an expensive form of fodder production.Dairjing should be concentrated in the irrigated and the most wellfavored rain-fed areas, and indeed, should have preference over beefin all zones where marketing of milk can be effectively organized. How-ever, since the building up of high producing milk stocks is a slowbusiness, priority in fodder use should be given to meat production inthe first instance.

38. The greatest scope for stimulating modern dairy productionexists through the ONVA organization, which is charged with theresponsibility of settling farmers on irrigated lands. With theorganization of large scale fodder beet production, and the power todeterminle the area of forage crops gromn, it can organize milk produact-ion as an ancillary to cash cropping. It is already attempting to dothis, but its scale of operation and method of approach can be criticised.

39. Its present policy of setting up PD tbs'! at whichbreeding herds are maintained and milked, aid--from. which surplus off-spring are distributed to small-holders has ma e peZsses. It is toosl It is too n,t2y, and takes a Government organization directlyinto the business of milk production. A stable of 100 miSlking cows,after allowing for herd maintenance and losses during the rearing stage,cannot be expected to have available for distribut-ion more than 15 downcalving heifers a year. The L2 existing units are therefore unlikelyto add more than 18 females annually to the European type nationalmilking herd. The 40 odd units planned could eventually lift thisannual figure to 600 head. The logistics of this approach need care-ful reappraisal.

1/ 150 kilos of beef per 3,000 liters of milk per year.

40. The alternative of using the existing and proposed centersas true "nurseries" at which both imported and local calves could bereared from the calf to the dowm-calving stage, could increase theircontribution to the national herd three to four fold and at lowercosts. This change would ease the problem of teaching local small-holders calf-rearing on top of cow feeding and handling. It would takethe state-out of the controversial business of straight milk production.The Banl should review its current participation in the dairy side 'ofthe Sidi Slimane project in the light of these comments, and shouldattempt to try out the alternative advanced.

41. There is a ong case for using modern t e c; d milkbreeds such as the Fresisan, Tarentai or mohn. All three breeds

are-XdAtped to the Moroccan climate with little nee for high costhousi . The results already obtained from imported .&tock aresw 1 'icently encouraging to recommend continuation of this policy.Although a relatively large nucleus of soveral thousand head of importedhign quality dairy stock would be desirable, however, the_most economicwNto develp a,_dairy industry is by gradi gp ,the local.stocthroughthe use of the highest quality importedzsireps-or semen. There is amp'levidence ini16Iorocco that crosses between the Frlksian, Tarentaise andLimousin and local hardy and adapted females yield at satisfactorylevels - levels high enough to justify cultivato>d forage crop feeding.Preoccupation with imported type stocks of-females must not allow thisalternative, and economically most desirable, approach to be ignored.

42. Modern dair,ing must start in r1Le iz:rrigate.i4, d Sl e aa os.ior'eal2y artsz rt et. After 20 years of irrig-

ation it is someingo Eardy to see most of the livestock in theseareas still handled under the traditional subsistence pattern. In bothareas sugar be.et t;ops !ancipul pJ as well as molass'es, arevavailtab o_sunppleent easily growm and necessary st63Z &t der crops. The urgentprbeThm is to provide farmers with efficient milking stock and theziusband-ry advice for their day-to-day handling.

VI. CREDIT

43. Provided that all recommendations made by the Bank in connect-ion with Loan 433-i4OR concerning the CNCAY' are imTplemented, thisinstitution could play an important role in livestock development. Inthis- respect CNCA must improve its coordination with O04VA and worlk outthe best way to provide farmers and animal raisers with appropriatecredit.

1/ Caisse Nationale de Credit Agricole - a public autonomous bodyresponsible for agricultural credit.

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VII. CONCLUSIONS

44. (a) Livestock development in Morocco is necessary to fill thegrowing gap between supply nd the demand of a fast growing population.(para. 13).

(b) Physical conditions are favorable in many areas of theA, country for increased yields. (para. 23). Protection and rehabilitation

of pasture is needed for the rangeland areas. (para. 9).

(c) Before implementing new programs, institutions must bereorganized to achieve better coordination. They must be strengthenedby the recruitment of more suitable staff (including some expatriates inthe first instance). (para. 29).

(d) Overall policy and planning must be revised andcoordinated with realistic development plans, and must include all facetsof the livestock sector (Research, Education, Vocational Training,Extension, Economics and Mlarketing). (paras. 24 through 29).

(e) Priority should be given to livestoclc development inirrigated areas as the necessary supplenent to cropping projects alreadyurndenray. (paras. 30 and 37).

(f) Increased meat production should be approached mainlythrough the device of adding extra carcass weight to existing slaughteranimals through better feeding with forage crops. (para. 24).

(g) Increased milk production should be based on Europeantype dairy animals, the numbers of which should be multiplied as rapidlyas possible by direct import, grading up of local stock and improvedlocal calf rearing campaigns. (para. 41). Priority should be given todairying in association with sugar beet and forage crop production onirrigated areas. (para. 37).

.