The projects are meant to promote date palm in the oases of the province, develop agriculture and fight desertification and poverty in the high plateaus of the eastern region.
    The 151-million dirham date palm project, which spans over 2010-2013, will benefit 1,363 farmers. It will raise the number of date palms to 223,200 by 2020 from 189,000 currently and increase production to 6,696 tonnes from 2,041.
    As to the agricultural development projects, they will benefit 4,000 farmers. They aim at improving irrigation conditions on an area of 2,000 ha and increase the production of dates by 76% and that of olive by 90%.
    The agricultural development project of the palm groves, which will benefit 730 farmers, is meant to improve the farmers’ income, reduce poverty, preserve and promote palm groves and market the product.
    Later on, the sovereign presided over the signing ceremony of an agreement to set up a complex for vocational training.
    The complex, which will be built on an area of 3 ha, will provide training to 150 students yearly in sections relating to date production and processing, management and marketing.