Strengthen Long Term Al-Haouz Earthquake Recovery

In collaboration with partner organisations and local associations and communities, we successfully organised the fourth and last large-scale seed distribution initiative as part of our long-term Earthquake Response Programme across four communes in Morocco: Imegdal, Ijoukak, Talat N'Yaacoub, and Ighil. The initiative aimed to support local farmers recovering from the earthquake and facing declining soil fertility, by distributing high-quality, organic and local seeds, including 35 tons of corn, 1800 kg of common beans, and 90 kg of three varieties of squash to 3423 farmers across 113 villages.

The seeds were selected to promote the Three Sisters intercropping technique, a method practised by a growing number of farmers in the region, that strengthens agrobiodiversity, improves water efficiency, and makes better use of limited land.

To reinforce local economies and traditional seed systems, all seeds were sourced from smallholder farmers in Midelt and Imilchil. This not only supported rural livelihoods beyond the High Atlas but also created opportunities for intergenerational knowledge exchange, as farmers shared cultivation practices, drought-management tips, and stories about seed varieties adapted to local climates.

The distribution was carried out efficiently, ensuring that farmers across all four communes had fair access to seeds in time for the planting season. By strengthening local seed availability, the initiative supported agricultural recovery and enabled farmers to prepare their fields for the coming cycle, in addition to strengthening local food systems and agricultural stability in the High Atlas.