Can camelina become a valuable addition to Morocco’s cereal-based farming systems?
A recent CARINA Lighthouse event was held in Douar Akrich, Morocco, organised by ICARDA in collaboration with the Douar Akrich Association for Development, Coopérative 3ème Millénaire (women-led cooperative, Rehamna), and the Office National du Conseil Agricole (ONCA, Ministry of Agriculture, Morocco). In total, 31 attended, including farmers, political representatives, agricultural advisors, and other experts.
The lighthouse showcased the potential of camelina as a complementary crop in cereal-based cropping systems, as is the case of Morrocco. It proved conditionally effective even in highly climate- and water-stressed agricultural zone where production is increasingly constrained by rainfall unpredictability, land pressure, and weed-heavy monocropping. The Lighthouse aimed to assess whether camelina could offer a practical, low-input alternative to support more resilient cropping systems directly under these conditions.
The programme combined a training workshop with an on-farm demonstration. The theoretical session covered camelina’s role in cereal-based rotations, weed suppression potential, and possible uses of its oil and seed cake. The field visit then allowed participants to observe cultivation practices in real conditions, including land preparation, seeding, fertilisation, and irrigation using the khettara system, alongside comparisons with conventional cereal plots.
This event encouraged participants to exchange experiences and discuss how camelina could be integrated into their own farming systems. Many farmers expressed strong interest in adopting the crop within their cereal rotations after seeing its performance in the field, while also highlighting the need for improved access to seeders to support future adoption.
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