The United Nations Leadership Role in Solving the Western Sahara Conflict: Progress, or Delays for Peace (Published)
This essay evaluates the United Nations’ (UN) involvement and efforts in Western Sahara, and assesses its perceived effectiveness in settling this conflict in the post-Cold War international order. The dispute in Western Sahara is the most protracted conflict in the history of the UN. Its settlement would provide a crucial platform for the progress of other unresolved conflicts under UN auspices. As a mediator and an intervening party, the UN has played a major role in the dispute, especially since the establishment of the UN Mission for Western Sahara, MINURSO. After outlining the history of the Western Sahara conflict, this paper elucidates the stages the UN has managed therein, and clarifies the reasons and motives behind the deadlock in the Sahara. The UN’s efforts are evaluated, and the negotiating perspectives of the concerned parties in the conflict and role of Algeria, which considers itself not formally part of the conflict despite its role in preserving the current impasse, analysed.
Keywords: Algeria, Morocco, United Nations, Western Sahara, resolution
Weed Surveys in Rainfed Canola (Brassica Napus L.) Fields in Chaouia, Morocco (Published)
Weed surveys were conducted in 2014-15 and 2015-16 in 23 rainfed canola fields in Chaouia, semi-arid Morocco, to identify weed flora. A total of 139 weed species were identified. : 91 species in January 2015 and 2016 before in-crop weed control with herbicides and/or hand removal, and 126 species in March 2015 and 2016 after weed control. Weed densities before weed control ranged from 48 to 333 plants m−2 with an average of 152 plants m–², and densities after weed control ranged from 41 to 667 plants m−2 with an average of 115 plants m–². Weeds found after herbicide use and hand removal were a) weeds not controlled or partially controlled by herbicides, b) weeds that emerged after herbicide application, and c) weeds not manually removed after chemical weed control. Research should focus on an integrated weed management strategy based on the use of competitive cultivars, high crop density, preemergence and postemergence herbicides, and mechanical cultivation in canola planted with wide row spacing.
Keywords: Canola, Morocco, weed density, weed frequency, weed relative abundance
Weed Surveys in Rainfed Canola (Brassica Napus L.) Fields in Chaouia, Morocco (Published)
Weed surveys were conducted in 2014-15 and 2015-16 in 23 rainfed canola fields in Chaouia, semi-arid Morocco, to identify weed flora. A total of 139 weed species were identified. : 91 species in January 2015 and 2016 before in-crop weed control with herbicides and/or hand removal, and 126 species in March 2015 and 2016 after weed control. Weed densities before weed control ranged from 48 to 333 plants m−2 with an average of 152 plants m–², and densities after weed control ranged from 41 to 667 plants m−2 with an average of 115 plants m–². Weeds found after herbicide use and hand removal were a) weeds not controlled or partially controlled by herbicides, b) weeds that emerged after herbicide application, and c) weeds not manually removed after chemical weed control. Research should focus on an integrated weed management strategy based on the use of competitive cultivars, high crop density, preemergence and postemergence herbicides, and mechanical cultivation in canola planted with wide row spacing.
Keywords: Canola, Morocco, weed density, weed frequency, weed relative abundance
MOROCCAN CANNED SARDINES VALUE CHAIN-GOVERNANCE AND VALUE ADDED DISTRIBUTION (Published)
Morocco is the world’s leading producer and exporter of canned sardines. However, this product value chain encounters multiple challenges. This study explores how such a chain could create and capture a larger value added share within the European market. Surveys using questionnaires and open interviews have been carried out including a sample of relevant actors in the chain. The results show that the value chain is substantially driven by European retailers who create 68% of the total value added; while Moroccan canning industry remains relatively less wealth-building and captures less income. The improvement strategy should foster better vertical cooperation among actors, a common commercial policy and an innovative diversification of the Moroccan offer.
Keywords: Canned sardines, Governance, Income, Morocco, Value Chain, Value added
REVIEW OF WASTEWATER TREATMENT AND REUSE IN THE MOROCCO: ASPECTS AND PERSPECTIVES (Published)
Wastewater reuse in agriculture has been identified as a way to alleviate water scarcity, improve crop productivity and improve environmental sustainability. Since the sixties, Morocco has largely contributed to the mobilization of its hydraulic capacities in order to face the demographic increase and sustain its social and economic development. Nonetheless, and in addition to the continuation of the efforts directed to mobilization, and the control of the demand, the limited hydraulic potential requires the resort to unconventional resources. The use of treated wastewater in irrigation is necessity for a better water resources economy. The present article deals with the experiences carried out in Morocco in this domain. In spite of the progress that has been achieved in the last decade on technical, institutional, financial and legislative levels as regards the development of the process “sewage network-treatment-reuse”, obstacles still hinder the deployment of the re-use of treated wastewater. In the current state of affairs, no project integrating the three components has been realized. This paradoxical situation is due to several constraints
Keywords: Agriculture, Effluent Quality, Morocco, Technical, Wastewater Reuse, Wastewater Treatment
