Identification and planting of Cactus resistant to cochineal in Morocco

Following the cochineal epidemic which, since its appearance in 2014, has wiped out almost all cactus crops in Morocco, estimated at tens of thousands of hectares, competent authorities, experts, farmers and associative actors have joined hands to find a solution to this scourge. To this end, a project to reconstitute cactus plantations in the Doukkala region, the "epicenter" of this epidemic, was launched in the commune of Boulaouane, with the ambitious objective of contributing to local agricultural development. Thanks to the identification of resistant plants, the Regional Directorate of Agriculture launched, from last June, the project to reconstitute cactus plantations in the region, after they had been completely eradicated by the cochineal. Fathallah Fennich, head of the Oulad Frej agricultural development district, under the Doukkala Regional Agricultural Development Office, indicated that the project to reconstitute cactus plantations is part of the ...