In June 2008, just outside Morocco’s capital city Rabat, a small number of farmers established “Swani Tiqa”; an innovative concept in agriculture which aimed to introduce organic farming to the region and to establish direct relationships between farmers and their customers. The initiative follows in the footsteps of similar programmes across the developed world, including Teikei in Japan, AMAP in France and Community Supported Agriculture in the USA; which seek a return to traditional methods and a rejection of mass production, chemical fertilisers and over-cultivation. Perhaps even more importantly, these schemes allow local farmers to survive by offering them an opportunity to connect directly with consumers rather than losing out to intermediaries and competition from large-scale producers.
At the private school which is used for the distribution of the “Swani Tiqa” produce, it is evident that the programme is gaining a lot of support from consumers who wish to eat more healthily, enjoy the taste of organic vegetables and encourage local farmers who work hard to produce the overflowing baskets of food each week. In its first year, the initiative was producing 80 baskets per week and this grew to 120 in 2009. “Swani Tiqa” now comprises 3 farmers producing food for 160 customers, and with a waiting list of over 100 it is clear that the project has been a great success. In addition, it is not just the increasing size of the initiative which offers hope for the future of small scale farming in the area, but the close relationships between farmer and customer which were apparent at the school. The direct interaction gives consumers confidence about the provenance of their food and instils a customer loyalty which cannot be matched by impersonal supermarkets and shops. There is a clear feeling that the customers are helping their neighbours, but this is anything but charity. The relationship is above all a reciprocal one; in return for their support, customers receive excellent fruit and vegetables which are produced in an environmentally sustainable manner.
However, although “Swani Tiqa” has been highly successful in promoting its objectives thus far, it is vital to acknowledge that Rabat, and Morocco as a whole, has a long way to go before organic farming and community initiatives in agriculture become widely recognised and represent anything other than a highly positive and innovative exception to the norm. The customers of “Swani Tiqa” currently comprise primarily ex-patriots of France, Belgium, America and Canada and a small number of wealthy, well-educated Moroccans. It can be argued that the reason for this trend lies not in the prices of the baskets, which cost about the same as they would in a normal market; but in a lack of awareness of, and responsiveness to, the merits of organic produce and the advantages to both producers and consumers of supporting local farmers. It is imperative that, if this concept is to have the impact it deserves, the proponents of “Swani Tiqa” recruit more small scale farmers to the programme in order to meet the already burgeoning demand, and that they endeavour to include consumers from poorer backgrounds. The change in attitudes that this growth requires from the Moroccan people will not be easy to effect, but seeing the programme at work, there is a clear case for optimism.
Elizabeth Sinclair
Intern for E-Joussour
