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1969-70 season. They, along with Francis Bidinger
who is completing his second year, are
working with the technicians of the Agronomic
Research Division (DPA) to develop high-yielding
disease-resistant varieties adapted to North
African conditions and to determine the fertilizer
and cultural practices required to obtain
optimum yields under the rainfed conditions
of Morocco.
The project also has four production agronomists
stationed in the major cereal production
areas who work with the Agricultural Development
Division (DMW) of the Ministry of
Agriculture in order to introduce the highyielding
varieties together with an associated
"package of improved practices" to Moroccan
farmers. Three of these agronomists are provided
to the project by the Near East Foundation
under a contract with U.S. AID/Morocco.
Coordination of project activities is done
through a Wheat Committee created in the
Ministry of Agriculture for this purpose. The
U.S. AID project manager serves on this committee
along with representatives from the
Research Agricultural Development (Extension)
and Planning Divisions of the Ministry of
of Agriculture.
In contrast to 1968-69, when disease problems,
especially Septoria, resulted in disappointing
yields from many fields of the Mexican
varieties, the results obtained this past season
are highly encouraging. The area planted to
the Mexican 'varieties this past year was approximately
10,000 hectares, twice the area
seeded in 1968-69. In spite of the relatively
low yields obtained the previous year, most
farmers recognized the yield potential of these
varieties, and were willing to give them a second
chance.
Many of these farmers are now reporting
yields' of 25-40 quintals per hectare where
they followed recommended practices.- Usually
these yields are 50-60% above those obtained
with local varieties. Natul;8l1y, where recommended
practices were not followed the yields
obtained were not as satisfactory. The top
yields reported from commercial production
fields this year have been 45 quintals under
rainfed conditions with Tobari 66 near Casablanca,
and 52 quintals with Siete Cerros under
irrigation near Agadir.
In general, yields from commercial fields
have paralleled the results obtained with the
demonstrations. Although results are not yet
complete the following observations from farm
demonstrations seem warranted:
1. When various limiting factors hold yield
below thirty quintals/hectare, the advantages
of the Mexican varieties tend to disappear. Example:
In the plots at Sidi-EI-Aidi where, as a
result of severe water stress, the top yield was
Inia 66 with 17.7 Ox/ha, whereas the local
check variety 2,777 yielded 10.3 Ox/ha, only
7 quintals less.
2. When the various limiting factors are
removed and yields rise over the 30 Ox/ha
then Mexican varieties are really clearly advantageous.
Example: The plots at EI Gara,
where the top yielder was Penjamo with 37.8
Ox/ha contrasted with the check variety 2,777
with a yield of 22.0 Ox/ha though all varieties
at this location came through with good yields.
The three Mexican varieties all yielded over
330x/ha.
3. It became apparent this year that too
little fertilizer is being applied on the demonstration
plots. At Mediouna, with an additional
20 kg/ha of nitrogen applied at booting (accompanied
by adequate soil-water reserves),
yields were pushed up to over 50 Ox/ha on
two Mexican varieties (Norteno 67 and Tobari
66). The local varieties were unable to benefit
appreciably from this extra application.
4. Fertilizer is obviously not the limiting
factor, however, nor in some instances the most
important. For example: at Gervais, EI Gara,
four different varieties yielded more than 35.0
Ox/ha, whereas at Berrechid under similar
moisture and the same fertilizer levels these
same varieties yielded only 26.0 Ox/ha.
Failure to adequately control weeds combined
with poor fertilizer application contributed
to the lower yields at Berrechid.
Current expectations are that commercial
production of the Mexican varieties will average
nearly 20 qUintals per hectare this year,
contrasted to slightly over 11 quintals in 1968­
69 and to a national average for all wheat this
year of about 12 quintals per hectare. This
increase has largely resulted from better placement
of varieties. Siete Cerros was moved to
the drier southern areas where Septoria is
not serious, while Tobari and Penjamo were
recommended and used in the wetter northern
areas. As previously states, where recommended
practices were followed, yields in
the range of 25-35 qUintals were not uncommon.
These results have already generated sufficient
interest among farmers throughout the
country, so that it appears likely that there
will not be sufficient quantities of certified
seed to meet demand for the 1970 plantings.
Consequently many farmers are holding back
all or part of their production for their own
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