gebana Maghreb supports and advises small farmers on organic production. The date producers are visited many times during the course of a year as part of the internal control system required for organic certification. These visits serve two purposes; firstly, to collect data on anticipated yields, use of goat and sheep manure and compliance with organic regulations and secondly, to provide advice on the best time for harvesting and the development of organic cultivation and composting methods. While manure is already being widely substituted for fertiliser, using organic methods to control the weeds that compete with palms for scarce water, poses a greater challenge for farmers.
