Forms of Agricultural Exploitation Between Natural Determinism and Development Projects in Mountainous Areas (Northeastern Morocco): The Case of the Beni Yznassen Mountains

Abstract

This study examines the agricultural dynamics of the Beni Yznassen Mountains in Northeastern Morocco, with the objective of diagnosing current practices and identifying the main constraints hindering agricultural development. The findings reveal a strong predominance of rainfed farming (31,850 ha) in communes such as Raslan, Taforalt, and Sidi Bouhria, where cereal cultivation depends largely on irregular rainfall. Land tenure is dominated by private ownership (94.93%), leading to highly fragmented and small-scale holdings, while agricultural practices remain largely traditional and subsistence-oriented. To mitigate spatial disparities and address natural constraints, the state has introduced development programs, including cereal-to-tree crop substitution projects such as almond cultivation, implemented within the framework of Moroccan-Belgian cooperation. These interventions, covering several communes including Beni Khaled, Raslan, and Mechraa Hammadi, highlight both the challenges and opportunities of promoting sustainable agricultural development in mountainous areas.