Morocco - Livestock and Pastoral Development Project in the Eastern Region

The Livestock and Pastoral Development Project in the Eastern Region (PLDPO) is in line with the Moroccan Government’s policy, which seeks to reduce regional disparities by giving priority to the underprivileged areas under the Public Investment Programme (1988-1992 Economic and Social Development Policy Plan). The overall project goal is to promote and develop stockbreeding while preserving natural resources on the pastoral areas in the Eastern region. The project consists in carrying out, with the participation of the breeders organized into co-operatives, appropriate activities in the environment, with a view to boosting the production of the rangelands and increasing the income of the breeders. It will help reclaim the pastoral areas with a view to increasing livestock productivity; ensure health protection to improve the quality of the animal products; strengthen the extension services, train stock-breeders and promote women. The project worked in two different directions. First, the project carried out extension activities in the areas of prevention against diseases, vaccination of children, family planning, feeding, sanitation, environmental awareness and herd management. Second, the project assisted women in the introduction of income-generating activities.