THE TRAINEE PROGRAM FOR AGRICULTURAL GRAD UATES FROM MOROCCO

Since 1986 over 100 graduates from Agricultural Universities and Techn ical Schools of Morocco have received practical training directed by t he German Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture (DITSL), Witzenhausen. The Programme has been launched by the Food and Agricult ure Centre of the German Foundation for International Development with the aim of training practically skilled farm managers who are capable of being trainers of professional staff required in the agricultural production sector. Since 1990 the programme has been incorporated into a bilateral aid project of the German Agency for Technical Cooperatio n with the objective of establishing a dual system of education for th e agricultural sector in Morocco. The 18-months programme comprises, a fter 4 months of language training, a period of 12 months active parti cipation on a German family-type farm or horticultural enterprise. Thi s phase is complemented by a series of intensive subject matter semina rs along with the vegetation period. With respect to the project purpo se achievements became visible in 1992 when the first group of agricul tural students received their practical training on a commercial farm run by a group of returnees and more former participants were in the p rocess of opening up their farms. The acquired skills and high motivat ion of the new farm managers will result in a lasting effect. However it is also apparent from the time span between the start of activities and first achievements that sustainability requires a maturing proces s which has to be considered in programme planning.