Characterization of the diversity of peri-urban farms in the metropolis of Casablanca in Morocco to facilitate their agroecological transition to more sustainable food systems

A characterization based on agricultural practices was carried out using surveys of 50 farmers in six agricultural zones in peri-urban area of Casablanca in Morocco. The objective was to assess the potential of peri-urban farms for transition towards more ecological production methods. The study revealed that 96% of farmers use chemical inputs, only two of them adopt organic or agroecological production methods and 14% of respondents plan to convert to organic farming. The typology allowed deducing that peri-urban farms are medium to large (> 3 ha), mostly family-owned and 24% of them adopt subsistence farming (vegetable crops, cereals, leguminous and fruit trees). All farms have common strengths, such as the widespread practice of crop rotation and associations and organic fertilization. Thus, they are playing a major role in environmental management by recycling livestock products in form of organic manure and by using crop compost for soil maintenance. However, farms are facing global challenges in terms of the significant expansion of urban spaces, insufficient and high cost of agricultural labor, lack of technical support and water shortage. But also, specific challenges in terms of use of synthetic pesticides and sustainable fertilization for an agroecological transition. Producers are unaware about the effects of their practices on the environment, especially in peri-urban areas where technical support is insufficient and awareness of health and environmental impacts of agricultural practices needs to be consolidated.