Morocco and Israel strengthen cooperation in smart agriculture
Morocco and Israel are once again entering into agreements to cooperate with each other. Following the initiatives of both the Alawite kingdom and the Hebrew nation in an attempt to strengthen the new relations they are maintaining, SupPlant, an Israeli company dedicated to the creation of cultivation, has announced the new project, in conjunction with the Moroccan company Rahatech. The two brands are joining forces with the aim of increasing the productivity of farmers in Morocco.
They will benefit from new techniques developed by the two firms, which will seek to improve the entire agricultural system with new, more efficient and precise alternatives. SuPlant will contribute with new tactics and smart technologies that are capable of obtaining accurate information about crops. Above all, it will provide farmers with accurate data about the quality of plants, irrigation and the soil where they are located, which will be transformed into improved production.
The project will use the latest artificial technology developed for this type of issue, which, if used properly and correctly, will be able to increase the production of agricultural crops, allowing for better harvest quantity and, in turn, Morocco's economy.
The system used by the Hebrew brand applies an advanced algorithm that analyses plant and soil data and makes a forecast of the weather conditions in the area where the crops are grown and the irrigation needs of each crop. The farmer will thus be able to achieve a more accurate and better-quality crop. For this purpose, several sensors are installed. One at the level of the fruit, another on the leaves, and two others on the stem and trunk of the plant, as well as in different parts of the soil, which allow the real water needs to be monitored. The data will be analysed by experts and agricultural engineers who will provide accurate irrigation information to field workers. In addition, the equipment will provide real-time data.
"SuPlant specialises in changing the basic concept of irrigation methods and focuses on the real and instant needs of the plant. The technology we use allows us to develop a perfectly customised irrigation protocol within six weeks," said the Israeli company's spokesperson following the announcement of its collaboration with Rahatech.
SuPlant is a world-leading brand in the use of artificial intelligence techniques in the field of agriculture and plants. Its systems and tactics are used in its home country as well as in Spain, Russia, China, Australia, South Africa, the United States and Canada, in addition to several South American countries such as Brazil, Peru and Argentina, among others. The accuracy of their data and their projects help farmers in their work, which, in the long term, translates into good results.
Good harvests through this use has been of interest to Morocco for several years in the search for systems based on "smart agriculture". Using this method has long been part of the Kingdom's sustainability agenda, since the nation's launch of the Green Plan in 2008.
This strategy was developed to make agriculture a key point in the growth of the nation's economy; it now plays an important role, as harvesting agricultural products alone accounts for up to 16.5% of the national GDP and working in the fields is one of the main sources of income for 40% of the Moroccan population.
Since then, Morocco has become a major exporter of agricultural products. Data show that both Europe and North American countries receive more than 80 % of vegetables from Morocco. As a result, over the last decade, the Kingdom has experienced significant growth and is now able to export more than 200 types of plants to the world.