Virtual Magazine of Morocco on the Web
Morocco Week in Review 
August 23, 2009

Cactus commerce boosts Morocco.
By Sylvia Smith / BBC News, Sbouya, Morocco

It is just after dawn in the hills above the Moroccan hamlet of Sbouya and a group of women are walking through the thousands of cactus plants dotted about on the hillside, picking ripe fruits whenever they spot the tell-tale red hue. But these woman are not simply scraping a living out of the soil.
The cactus, previously eaten as a fruit or used for animal feed, is creating a minor economic miracle in the region thanks to new health and cosmetic products being extracted from the ubiquitous plant.

This prickly pocket of the semi-arid south of the country around the town of Sidi Ifni is known as Morocco's cactus capital. It is blessed with the right climate for the 45,000 hectares (111,000 acres) of land that is being used to produce prodigious numbers of succulent Barbary figs.

Every local family has its own plot and, with backing from the Ministry of Agriculture, the scheme to transform small scale production into a significant industry industry is under way. Some 12m dirhams ($1.5m) have been pledged to build a state-of-the-art factory that will help local farmers process the ripe fruits. The move is expected to help workers keep pace with the requirements of the French cosmetics industry which is using the cactus in increasing numbers of products.

Lucrative
Izana Marzouqi, a 55-year-old member of the Aknari cooperative, says people from the region grew up with the cactus and did not realise its true benefit. "Demand for cactus products has grown and that it is because the plant is said to help with high blood pressure and cancer. The co-operative I belong to earns a lot of money selling oil from the seeds to make anti-ageing face cream."

Each member of the Aknari cooperative can pick between 30 and 50 pallets of the fruits in a morning during the season which lasts from July to December. Many of them also work in the factory a short distance away where the fruit is peeled and then the pulp is separated and used to make jam.

The seeds which are ground to produce an oil are the most lucrative part of the plant. The oil is used in more than 40 cosmetic products, and sells at a very high price as a pure skin oil. It takes approximately a tonne of the tiny seeds to make a litre of oil. Parts of the stem are ground into a powder, the flowers flavour vinegar and the pulp of the fruit has been found to lower cholesterol. Nowadays very little is left over for animal feed.

Cactus brand
Keltoum Hammadi, who runs the Aknari co-operative, says that some of the processes are secret."In the cosmetics industry rivals never let the competition know their sources."All I can say is that we are working with a number of European laboratories to develop the use of the cactus for slimming."

Keltoum Achahour, manager of Saharacactus in the Sidi Ifni area, explains that her company is collaborating on other new products. "We are a sort of umbrella for a number of women's cooperatives," she explains."By forming a group and incorporating we can protect the cactus, create a brand and ensure we get a fair share of the vast sums of money that the international cosmetics industry spends on research and development."

Exact figures are hard to come by, with each cooperative having its own speciality. Their activities range from making soap to pickling leaves cut into strips, from packing top quality fresh fruits for use within Morocco, to selling on the road side from buckets to lorries that roll up in town early in the morning. Consequently the exact size of the industry remains difficult to measure.

Boost for women
At present only 20% of the fruits grown for commercial use is processed in the region. The vast majority is still bought in bulk by outsiders who cream off the highest profit. They can buy a box for between 20 and 30 dirhams and sell it on for 100 dirhams. But with greater financial involvement from the government, it is expected that within two years more than 75% of the production will be processed by the townspeople of Ait Baamram.

The industry is expected to grow by more 20% next year alone. More than half of the land suitable for cactus production has yet to be involved in any commercial activity and with 9,000 plants per hectare (or acre) there is still a lot of room for expansion.

It is also an industry that has won women a lot of freedom. Sayka Hafida, a member of the Aknari cooperative, says that her life has been transformed by this organic, naturally occurring plant. "We still use the cactus leftovers for animal feed and we eat the fruit when it is fresh, and dry it for times when the plants don't produce. "But I could never have imagined that I could get such a good income from it. You don't have to be educated to work in the factories. "Our children are feeling the benefits. There is much more money around and it is women who are earning it."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8166905.stm
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Morocco: Demands rise on argan tree.
By Lindsey Arkley | Contributor 08.17.09 A local, slice-of-life story from a Monitor correspondent.
ESSAOUIRA, MOROCCO – For centuries, the Berber people of south-west Morocco have used oil from a tree endemic to the region as a staple food and in traditional medicines. In recent years, there’s been increasing demand for oil from the argan tree in Western countries, where it’s used by gourmet chefs, and by cosmetic companies which claim it has antiaging and restorative properties. Now the Moroccan government is hoping to triple production of argan oil by 2020, from the current level of around 100 tons a year.

It’s hoped that poor rural women in particular would benefit from expansion of the argan oil industry in an arid region with few industries and employment prospects. The trouble is, the slow-growing argan tree is already listed as an endangered species, presenting scientists with a huge challenge to avert over-exploitation.

Argan oil comes from the two to three kernels found inside the pit of the oval-shaped green fruit of the tree. Traditionally, it is women who crack the pit, lightly roast the kernels, then pound and knead the resulting paste to extract the oil. Using traditional methods, 2 pints of oil requires about 220 lbs. of fruit, and up to about 20 hours of work in one of about 25 women’s cooperatives set up in the region since 1996. Some of the co-ops have introduced a degree of mechanization that reduces the amount of manual labor required.

Others, however, such as the Marjana Cooperative near the Atlantic coastal city of Essaouira, prefer to maintain traditional methods to maximize employment. As the Marjana Co-op’s production rose from 1.5 tons in 2006 to 3.4 tons last year, the number of women employed full time almost doubled to nearly 50 workers. For many women, it is their first paid job, and they can earn up to about $280 a month – a good sum in a region where many people live below the poverty line.

The Marjana Co-op, which was set up by a parents’ organization so that the women could work while their children are at school, also provides basic literacy and numeracy classes between shifts to those who need it. “It is important that those of us who have had a good education help the other women in this way,” says sales assistant Ghizlane Zakkar, who studied for four years for a law degree, but can’t find work as a lawyer. Raising literacy levels is also seen as an important part of spreading the message among the Berber women about preserving argan trees for future generations, Ms. Zakkar says.

In 1998, UNESCO declared almost 10,000 square miles of southwest Morocco, including the whole argan-growing region, to be a special “biosphere reserve.” Besides the argan tree’s various human uses, UNESCO noted, it also acted as a buffer against northern expansion of the Sahara Desert – a role that remains just as critical today.
http://features.csmonitor.com/globalnews/2009/08/17/morocco-demands-rise-on-argan-tree/
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Population growth on the wane in Morocco
Casablanca

The pace of the population growth in Morocco has been on a sharp downward trend of 30% over the past years, according to Morocco's High Planning Commission (HCP). The HCP reports in its latest report on growth and human development in Morocco over 1998-2008, that the Moroccan population has witnessed last year the birth of 39 people an hour, compared with 55 in 1998.

It notes that 350,000 people were born on a yearly basis over the reporting period, forecasting that by 2030 the growth will drop to 300,000 a year. The figures also suggest a sustained growth in the urban population and a stagnation in rural areas, with a new 3 million people born in urban areas and five times lower in rural areas.

The HCP also reports a fall in fertility, with three children less at national level over the past 20 years.
As far as life expectancy at birth is concerned, the HCP says improvement in living conditions has largely contributed to longer life expectancy. However, it notes that this drop in fertility and longer life expectancy will lead to population ageing. Regarding labour force, which rose by 10.2% at national level, it says that 100,000 new working-age people join the labour market, including two thirds in urban areas. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/population_growth_on/view
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Around 2m Moroccans no longer poor over 1998-2007, planning commission
Casablanca

Around 1.8 million Moroccans have been lifted out of poverty over the period 1998-2007 thanks in a particular to the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH), the high Commission for planning (HCP) has said. The INDH was launched in mid-2005 by H.M. King Mohammed VI to combat poverty and social exclusion. The HCP said in a recent publication that about 200,000 people got rid of poverty annually over the reporting period, against 8,700 between 1985 and 1998, noting that this progress was particularly witnessed in rural areas.

Privileged and modest households benefited the most from the improvement in living standards, according to the HCP which noted a 25% increase in indebtedness among these households compared with 35% among the middle class in the period under review.
http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/around_2m_moroccans/view
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OBG commends Morocco's steady progress in education
London

The London-based think tank Oxford Business Group (OBG) lauded on Wednesday the steady progress made by Morocco in the field of education. OBG underlined the various initiatives and programmes set to improve the sector of education mainly the 2009-2011 emergency programme.

These initiatives have already posted significant figures, the Group said, noting that the initial successes of the Advanced Learning and Employability for a Better Future (ALEF) programme show that the government may finally have found a feasible formula.

The Group highlighted the efforts made to enhance the education of girls living in remote areas, recalling that investors are being encouraged to set up operations outside the urban areas, with incentives ranging from a 50% exemption from corporate income tax for the first five years to the elimination of the VAT on equipment. http://www.map.ma/eng/sections/social/obg_commends_morocco/view
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Vocational school graduates eager to join Moroccan labour market.
By Sarah Touahri 2009-08-06

Moroccan youth hope that a government-sponsored vocational training programme will help reduce unemployment. In an effort to find a job in a difficult labour market, many young Moroccans have recently chosen vocational training after completing their baccalaureate degrees.

Numbers cited last week by Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi at a vocational school graduation back up their choice. "It's a good start for young people, although you have to make an effort to find work and hold onto it," said Amine G., who studied business through the government-funded Office of Vocational Training and the Promotion of Labour (OFFPT) and graduated last year. He said that vocational training offers graduates the prospect of finding work.

Speaking to new graduates on Wednesday (July 29th), the Prime Minister said that the OFFPT helped 400,000 of its graduates join the workforce. He also noted that the placement rate for OFFPT graduates was between 75 and 100%. He said the OFPPT is a critical component in developing the vocational skills of graduates, and the office helps business, young people and the economy overall.

The OFFPT launched a vocational training program in July 2008 to prepare graduates for work in a variety of sectors, including tourism, transport and industry. In its first year, 194,000 students were enrolled in training programs. For the coming 2009-10 training period, 220 students are enrolled, an increase of 14%. The OFFPT hopes to train 650,000 youth by 2012.

The director general of OFPPT, Larbi Bencheikh, said that there are a number of reasons for the high placement rate of graduates. The OFFPT programme worked to provide detailed course materials for all modules and subject areas, he explained. "The improvement of skills among the training bodies, rolling out skills assessments, help with specialisation and certification…These have been some of the OFPPT's priorities. 500 training personnel have been certified by international organisations such as CISCO, CNAM, Microsoft, Véritas, etc.," he said.

Nawal T., who trained in company management in 2006, said she received a number of offers in the country’s economic capital but preferred to stay in Rabat to avoid the “stress” of commuting. After working for a short while at a credit agency and a textiles company, she is currently looking for another job. "Job opportunities are limited for those working outside of Casablanca," she said. My classmates have almost all found work. Most of them work in Casablanca, one friend found work in Tangiers. If I'd left Rabat, I'd have found stable employment. I'm now seriously thinking about going to work in another town," she said. However, the training programme has led many graduates to find stable work in the public and private sectors.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/08/06/feature-04
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Family Code Gets Nudge, but Women Seek a Push.
By STEVEN ERLANGER and SOUAD MEKHENNET

TANGIER, Morocco — Fairouz Guiro, 19, still looks with wonder at her little girl, Marwar, all of 27 days old.
But Ms. Guiro has no idea how to find Marwar’s father. She was seduced by an older Moroccan man visiting Tangier on vacation from Spain, and he has since changed his cellphone number. “My mother told me to be careful of men and not to trust them,” she said. “I didn’t listen.” Ms. Guiro came to Tangier to work from a little town nine hours away and found a job at a company called Delphi. But her job is gone, and as a single mother, she has few rights here. Her parents told her to give up Marwar for adoption, and so did her siblings. “I said ‘O.K., I would,’ but later I couldn’t,” she said. “I know it’s my right to take care of my daughter.”

Despite an important reform of Morocco’s family code in 2004, pressed upon a reluctant Parliament by the young king, Muhammad VI, sex outside marriage is not recognized in Morocco, any more than homosexuality is. The new law, known as the Moudawana, provides no protection to women like Ms. Guiro or Latifa al-Amrani, 21, from Salé, near Rabat, who is about to become a single mother. She met a man, Ali, 24, who claimed he was a plainclothes policeman, and one day he took her supposedly to meet his aunt. It was an empty apartment, and they made love.

“He told me he wanted to marry me,” Ms. Amrani said. “But then he changed his phone and I couldn’t reach him anymore.” She filed a complaint with the police but has heard nothing from them. Her parents beat her, she said, so she ran away. She, too, says she intends to keep her baby. One reason for her confidence is the work of a charitable organization here called 100%Mamans, created in 2006 by Claire Trichot, 33. With help from a Spanish nongovernmental organization and private donors, Ms. Trichot and a small staff provide food, shelter and education for expectant single mothers; take them to decent hospitals for the birth; and then help them to care for the babies and find jobs.

Most of the young women have been shunned by their families and abandoned by the fathers of their children, Ms. Trichot said. “It’s illegal to have sex outside marriage, so single mothers have no rights,” she said. The mosques ignore them; families sometimes throw them out; the police usually think even rape victims are lying; the hospitals often treat them badly. “We want to make sure these women are treated fairly,” Ms. Trichot said, so they don’t abandon their babies. “Our goal is to reintegrate them into life.”

The Moudawana was much praised. It gave women equal legal rights to men in a marriage, including the right to ask for a divorce; raised the legal age for marriage to 18 from 15; and gave first wives the right to refuse should their husbands desire to marry a second wife. The law made divorce a legal procedure, eliminating the tradition of a husband divorcing a wife simply by handing her a letter.

Even five years later, the family code is deeply controversial in the country and among conservative religious figures, and many family judges are susceptible to corruption, according to groups promoting women’s education and legal rights, like the Women’s Development Association in Casablanca.

Touria Eloumri, its president, said that the “philosophy in the new law, based on equality, is the most important factor.” But, she added, “You can’t expect a quick change in mentality and habits in only five years.” More often than not, she said, “The biggest problem here is corruption among judges.”

There are often cases where a first wife’s consent to a second wife is forged, or another woman appears before the judge pretending to be a man’s wife, Ms. Eloumri said. There are long delays, and a system of family courts is only now being instituted.

Polygamy is still legal, subject to the agreement of the first wife, and adultery remains a crime. If a woman remarries before a child is 7, custody automatically reverts to her ex-husband, so some decide not to remarry. Many women want further changes.

But there has been “a real counter-reaction” to the law as it is, Ms. Eloumri said, particularly among the religious. The king, who is also the “commander of the faithful,” pushed through the law by telling Parliament that there was nothing in it that violated Islam, and nothing in Islam that contradicted the law. But his advisers say that it will take a generation for Moroccan attitudes to change, and no one is yet contemplating further reform.

In a recent poll of Moroccans done by a Moroccan magazine, TelQuel, and the French daily Le Monde, 91 percent had favorable opinions of the king. But the same poll, which was banned by the government and never published here, showed that 49 percent of respondents said that the new Moudawana “gave too many rights to women,” while 30 percent said it gave “enough rights to women” and should not go further.

Zakia Tahiri, 46, a filmmaker, just made a social comedy called “Number One,” about a man who mistreats his wife and the women at the factory he manages — until his wife feeds him a potion that turns him into a kind of feminist. “Everyone blames everything on the Moudawana,” she said, laughing. Islam “is a religion where everyone thinks he’s a specialist,” she said. “I wanted to show with my movie that each group does with the Moudawana what they want — the women, the men, the Islamists.”

Hinde Taarji, 52, is a writer and journalist, divorced, who recently adopted a son. “It’s evident the new law cannot be implemented the way it should for now,” she said. “But it’s a very important signal.” She described a female friend who ran a hotel and was separated for 15 years, but could not get a divorce and remarry because her husband refused. Under the new law, she finally divorced. “Even with the best law in the world, the corruption of the justice system is still a very big problem here,” Ms. Taarji said. “But lots of things have changed in Morocco for the better.”

Still, the biggest problem for young women in Morocco is lack of education; there is little sex education, even at home, and almost 70 percent of the women who come to 100%Mamans are illiterate — compared with about 38 percent nationwide. “They leave home and go to the cities to work, and confront the freedom of that,” Ms. Trichot said. “Then they meet young men and they are not ready.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/19/world/africa/19tangiers.html?_r=1
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The Berber Dance Is Over.
By Daan Bauwens RABAT, Aug 13 (IPS)

The satellite receiver has speeded up the process of wiping out the cultural heritage of Morocco's Berbers. Old traditions are now dying out under the influence of television imams. Berbers are an indigenous people of North Africa. There are an estimated 30 to 40 million in the region, mostly in Algeria and Morocco. Now their old practices are considered in popular Islamic interpretation to be 'satanic' or 'heathen'. Earlier this year the Moroccan government banned Berber names for newborn children in order to stress the Islamic identity of the nation's population.

Berbers have been resisting efforts to Arabise their communities ever since the arrival of Islam in the seventh century. But many Berbers now speak of a dramatic cultural change over the last few years, this time coming from within their own communities.

Tarama, a small isolated town in the south of Morocco, is becoming more silent by the day. "At home most people don't play music any more," says Abdelftah Aït Argane, a young Berber from Tarama. "It is changing very fast. People dance less, wedding feasts have dropped by at least 50 percent, and old ways are disappearing."

One old practice is tattooing on women's foreheads. Ten years ago this was common practice, now the custom has completely died out. Berbers used to believe in demonic possession. 'Witches' and 'magicians' were summoned to cure illnesses. Such centuries-old beliefs are now vanishing. "It is reasonable and just," says Argane. "Nowadays Islamic prescriptions are being followed more strictly than before. People now understand that until a few years ago they were leading a sinful life full of pagan rituals. It's better now: people don't dance, because men and women mustn't mix. It is an improvement."

In the bustling city Marrakech, young people shun traditional wedding feasts. The Salafi, familiar as the Saudi Islamic way of dressing, is becoming dominant. "There has never been a change like this," says Simohammed Zerrouni who has been living in Marrakech since birth. "Young people are turning to the strong principles of Islam in ever increasing numbers. It is for the best."

Zerrouni and Argane both say the change has been speeded up by the satellite receiver. "Over the past four years every Moroccan household has got a satellite receiver. There are 300 channels, of which 30 are strictly religious ones. Walk into a house in the city or in the countryside, and you will see the tv is always on. On a religious channel, mostly from Egypt or Saudi Arabia." "This is cultural suicide," says Murad Errarhib, political analyst with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES) in Rabat, a non-governmental think tank.

FES studies in 2007 showed that foreign broadcasting has become a major source of religious information for more than 60 percent of Moroccans. And it showed that 68 percent of those between 18 and 24 years of age rely on television for religious information compared to 40 percent among those over 60.

The satellite receiver is destroying Morocco's cultural heritage, says Errarhib. "Day in, day out, people see televised imams telling them the difference between right and wrong. These imams come from places with a completely different religious, judicial and doctrinaire frame of reference. "It is leading to the demise of centuries-old habits, and to cultural stress. Now people think what they have been practising for years is not allowed according to their own religion."

The teachings of Saudi and Egyptian television imams have changed the face of Islam in Morocco. "Islam was a shared, communal religion based on brotherhood," says Errarhib. "Now the message is: we have to find the enemy within; who is a bad Muslim, who is a good Muslim, and who is the perfect Muslim. This is not Moroccan Islam, but we see more and more people surrendering to this line of thought, speeding up the disappearance of our cultural heritage."

Mohamed Bekouchi, professor of sociology in Paris, Quebec and Rabat, says there are alternatives. "The state has to invest wisely in this country's cultural heritage," he tells IPS. "There is money to introduce dances and national culture in lessons at school, so young people begin to understand what their culture stands for, what its proper and specific values are. Without appreciation by themselves, it is bound to die out.

"It is Morocco's cultural void that makes people susceptible to radicalism on tv," Bekouchi tells IPS, "a cultural void that has been created by the swift changes Morocco has witnessed over the last 30 years: globalisation, industrialisation, tourism and urbanism. Our people are confused and need a stronghold. We can offer a stronghold by organising communities, by cultural initiatives. It is the only way." http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=48063
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Moroccans mark International Youth Day by voicing concerns.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat — 14/08/09

Young Moroccans seized the occasion of International Youth Day to reflect on the serious challenges they continue to face. No major celebrations marked International Youth Day in Morocco on Wednesday (August 12th), but that did not stop young people from reflecting on concerns ranging from unemployment to marginalisation.

"Celebrating the international day is not the important thing," Hind, a student, said of the annual UN event meant to spotlight youth issues worldwide. "The important thing is to take care of the youth, who are suffering from the neglect of the state, which is not justifiable because the youth are the base of progress."

Other young people echoed her concern, including Abdullah, an unemployed youth. Abdullah, an unemployed young man in Rabat, told Magharebia, "We're not asking for charity from the government." "One of our rights is for everyone to live a good life, including the youth, who have been oppressed," he added. Ismail Hamraoui, president of the Moroccan Youth Forum, also pinned part of the responsibility for young Moroccans' woes on the state.

"Moroccan youth suffer from several clear infrastructural crises that require the re-building and restructuring of the youth sector, whether at the level of public policies or the implementation of those polices," he told Magharebia. "[T]he state has a duty to rehabilitate young people, because they are living through what we call, in Moroccan slang, social hekra ("contempt") in the sense of marginalisation and exclusion in all its forms."

"It's the duty of the state to try to change its static mentality, as it deals with youth, [who experience] inferiority and discrimination," added Hamraoui. "I want to reaffirm that Moroccan youth are not minors and … are the key to development and real democracy."

"The thing that we notice in Morocco is the aversion of young people to everything, as a result of the bad conditions they are living under, the president of the Association of Youth for Youth, Emad Aqa, told Magharebia. "However, Morocco's young people are still a vital category of people that only lacks opportunities to work," said Aqa, whose organization was one of the few to set up meetings to mark International Youth Day. "Once this is available, they'll achieve remarkable successes, and the proof of that is the Moroccan youth who are living abroad," added the president of the group, which advocates the creation of a Youth Parliament to address some of Morocco's issues.

The president of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, Khadija Ryadi, told Magharebia, "The condition of young people ranges from unemployment and oppression by the authorities to taking the "death boats" [unsafe means of illegally emigrating overseas] in search of a better life."

"Young people are still engaged in struggle and they have a presence in the framework of [Moroccan] associations," she added, noting that youth were still "marginalized by the state even in the policies in which they are supposed to have the greatest share, such as recreation, innovation and sports."

For his part, Yacine Bezzaz, general coordinator of Rabat Law School's Student Club for Human Rights, told Magharebia, "We didn’t celebrate International Youth Day because the biggest category of people concerned with the matter, that is, the students, is on holiday." "One of the most important problems facing Moroccan youth today is the failure of the educational system," said Bezzaz. "This is in addition to other social problems, such as the absence of facilities and the weakness of the health system. In terms of the economy, there is a lack of the right to work."

"The way to improve the condition of Moroccan youth lies in the coordination of [their] efforts, organization within the framework of associations and political parties, and expression of their demands and aspirations within these organizations," said Bezzaz. "At the same time, the state has a duty to listen to the demands of youth, as they represent the biggest group in Morocco and are a great resource that the authorities have to make use of."

Bezzaz said Morocco's youth fall into four categories: a group that does not care about what is going on around them because they are engrossed in consuming banned substances; another group that includes those attracted to extremism; another that cares only about their personal interests and not at all about the interests of the country; and a final category that embraces a few young people who try hard to introduce change and make progress.

"As long as we are working inside associations and political parties, we have hopes of changing conditions the way we want to, within the framework of prosperity and progress of youth and the rest of the Moroccan people," added Bezzaz. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/08/14/feature-02
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Strategy to fight begging in Morocco grows despite difficulties.
By Siham Ali 2009-08-17

Despite obstacles, the Ministry for Social Development is expanding its strategy to combat begging throughout Morocco. Tangier and Laâyoune are the latest cities to join a Moroccan government campaign against the phenomenon of begging. The programme, which began in 2007 in Casablanca, Rabat and Fez, will eventually extend to Meknès, Agadir, Oujda and Marrakech.

The initiative has encountered numerous difficulties since its launch. In the cities where it started, inhabitants say nothing has changed. There are still beggars in the streets. Even so, more than 7,000 beggars have been arrested, according to figures from the Ministry for Social Development. Salima Sefrioui, who works in Rabat, said there were still numerous beggars in the town centre."We're told the government has implemented its plan in Rabat, but we don't see any difference. Even worse, the same beggars are still there in the same old places," she said.

One pillar of the plan to reduce begging is the reintroduction of offenders into the family and into the job market. Nevertheless, few have successfully rejoined society, with the majority returning to begging. Social Development Minister Nouzha Skelli told Magharebia that the plan has encountered problems, mainly having to do with "professional" beggars. The law needs to be changed, she said, to fight begging as a career and to limit the extent of the problem.

The minister is currently working on a stricter law that is a better fit for the actual situation in Morocco. Under current regulations, for example, even beggars arrested while in the possession of considerable sums of money do not face the penalty of confiscation.

The penal code stipulates jail terms of between one and six months for "anyone who, having the means to support themselves or able to procure them through work or any other legal means, habitually resorts to begging, wherever that may be".

Despite the complexity of the situation, Skelli added, the ministry hopes to continue its work, because "professional beggars aren't the only type, and the strategy should include a comprehensive social approach based on the reintegration of beggars into society".

Local authorities are expected to support the programme with funding and follow-up. The launch in each new city requires considerable effort; some first steps include building a centre to accommodate beggars involved in the programme, recruiting adequate numbers of staff and buying cars for social workers.

In Tangiers alone, where the plan was launched on July 24th, the establishment of an accommodation centre required 2.3 million dirhams, 1.3 million of which were provided by the ministry.

Fatima Moustaghfir, an MP, told Magharebia that the government's strategy to combat begging is not enough on its own. The primary responsibility, she said, should lie with local councillors, who should ensure the commune's budget is properly managed to provide work.

There is much ground to be made up in certain sectors to combat unemployment and begging, Moustaghfir continued. Fields such as gardening and cleaning "could take on thousands of people", she said.

Sociologist Samira Kassimi blames the persistence of begging in Morocco on urbanisation and the resulting unemployment. "Some think begging is an easy way to make a living and so they have made a career out of it," she said. Begging also leads to other problems, Kassimi said, including the exploitation of children and threatening behaviour toward the people accosted for a handout.

Others fear the economic impact beggars may have on the nation. Hamza Boundouki, who manages a snack bar in Casablanca, stated that beggars tarnish the image of tourism in Morocco. He said the state should punish professional beggars, but provide help for those who are genuinely in need. http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/08/17/feature-01
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Moroccans debate young people's taste for ready-made Ramadan dishes.
By Siham Ali 2009-08-14

Young Moroccans share their elders' taste for Ramadan delicacies — but often buy them ready-made when time-consuming cooking competes with work and other responsibilities. As Ramadan approaches, many Moroccan women are gearing up to give this special month a fitting culinary reception. Preparations usually start several days ahead, beginning with traditional Ramadan dishes like the ubiquitous "sellou" and "chebbakia" that grace Moroccan tables during the month.

These are very old traditions, although in recent years many young women have chosen to buy ready-made products rather than spend hours preparing them. "It is absolutely essential to have a few traditional dishes on the table during Ramadan," said Salima Karouachi, a young assistant manager. "But it's not necessary to prepare them at home, given that you can buy everything at the market."

Karouachi said she used to make everything herself. She enjoyed the preparations as part of the spirit of Ramadan. But she had to spend hours in the kitchen preparing food after she came home from work, an approach she called "impractical". "Then I realised it's much easier to buy the finished item, provided you can be sure it's clean," she said.

Karouachi is not alone. The younger generation, the generation of fast food and the fast pace, prefers to get the dishes ready-made. But that does not go down well with the older generation. Older women are usually ready to criticise the trend. "Even if one has money, it is still a fundamental duty for the woman to prepare Ramadan dishes at home," said Hadda Oualidi, 54, a public sector worker and mother of four. "For the sellou (a sweet made of flour, sugar, almonds, sesame and butter), for example, you need to select good ingredients, then wash and sort through them before mixing them together." "How can you tell if what you're buying is clean and has all the ingredients?" Oualidi said of the practice of buying ready-made dishes. "I can't believe how lazy girls are these days."

But working women cannot do all this work in the kitchen and still have time to rest and take care of themselves, said Touria Bekkali, a teacher. "So they try to prepare small dishes such as briouates and msemen so that they can freeze them and bring them out when needed, with a minimum of fuss."

Hadda, while considering herself one of Morocco's more traditional women, opts for the cook-and-freeze solution. She said she starts preparations for Ramadan weeks ahead, making dishes and freezing them so she can just warm them up during the holiday. "I think [ready-made] dishes have damaging health effects," she said, "But these women don't realise it."

Sociologist Fatiha Bahiji said it is only natural that Moroccan society should change, even in terms of Ramadan eating habits, given that the country is undergoing fundamental transformations. "Today, a number of dishes have worked their way onto Moroccan tables, such as fish and other little delicacies," she said. "It's natural for working women to turn to others for help when they feel they can't keep up."

Whether they have traditional or modern tastes, Moroccans are eager to start the holy month. All those interviewed agreed that whether they prepare the dishes or buy them ready-made does not matter; what matters is the spirit of Ramadan.

In working-class districts, stores will be open throughout Ramadan to sell chebbakia, sellou, dates, pastilla, msemen, baghrir and much more. "The profits increase considerably during the month of Ramadan," said Fatna Moussaidi, who sells baghrir, msemen and pastilles. She even delivers the dishes to her clients, who she says are mostly young working women.
http://www.magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xhtml1/en_GB/features/awi/features/2009/08/14/feature-03
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Diversified economy keeps the growth up .
Edited by George Haddad  Saturday, 08 August 2009

Morocco's GDP growth has risen by a third over 1998-2008, moving from 3.3% over 1990-1998 to 4.3% between 1998 and 2008, High Planning Commission has said. HCP said in its latest report on growth and human development that services and building and public works have enhanced Morocco's economic growth over the reporting period, with growth less and less dependent on agriculture. It reported that the GDP growth, exclusive of agriculture and fisheries, has moved from 3% over 1990-1998 to 4.8% over 1998-2008.

The commission added that services' contribution to GDP has gained 4 points over this period against 1.7 point over 1990-1998. As for building and public works' contribution, it gained 1.8 point compared with a drop of 0.7 point, while agriculture lost 4.7 points against a rise of 1.1%. HCP noted that the balance of payments, which posted an average surplus of 1.5% up to 2006, has increasingly been showing a deficit since 2007 (0.1% in 2007, 5.4% in 2008). As for inflation, it was contained at a year-on-year rate of 1.9% between 1998 and 2008 as against 4.9% a decade earlier.

Well prepared

Morocco’s economy has "remarkably" weathered the crisis and is well prepared for the post-crisis, French economist, professor Henri Védié, said. "Morocco's economy is indeed resilient thanks to a sound financial system and steady foreign direct investments," Henri said in an interview published by the French daily "Les Echos". He highlighted the upgrading efforts and the progress achieved by the kingdom, stressing that tourism is "a key element" of Morocco's economy. The North African country has also paid special attention to the environment and opted for an environment-friendly tourism.

Diversified economy

Achievements made by Morocco in the economic field over the past decade show the gradual progress of the country's economy that has become sounder and more diversified, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

The past ten years were the most productive for the north African country's economy, Dominique Strauss Kahn told Medi1sat TV channel on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the enthronement of H.M King Mohammed VI. "Figures are available to testify to this fact," he said, noting that the growth registered during the past decade exceeded that of the nineties by an average of 2%.

Though things remain to be done in terms of upgrading Morocco's economy, which is getting closer to the more developed economies, he said. Diversification was a "positive aspect" of Morocco's economy, he said, adding that the more economy is diversified, the less volatile it becomes. Referring to the global downturn, Strauss Kahn lauded Morocco's banking system which proved its soundness and stability.

Unemployment falls

Morocco's unemployment rate fell to 8% in the second quarter of 2009, down from 9.1% in the same period of 2008, High Planning Commissioner, Ahmed Lahlimi Alami said. Speaking at a press conference, Lahlimi said unemployment dropped from 14% to 12.6% in urban areas and from 3.9% to 3% in rural areas. The decrease in unemployment rate benefited mainly rural population aged between 15 and 24 (- 2.1 points) and young urban population aged between 25 and 34 (2.8 points).

However, unemployment among urban citizens belonging to the 15-24 age bracket rose from 30% to 30.7%, he noted. The number of unemployed fell to 911,000 in the second quarter of 2009, down from 1,033,000 in the same period of 2008, the Moroccan official underlined. The Moroccan economy generated in the second quarter 232,000 jobs, of which 196,000 were created by the sectors of agricultural, forests and fisheries, Lahlimi said, noting that industry and handicrafts lost 7,000 jobs.
http://www.english.globalarabnetwork.com/200908082106/Economics/morocco-diversified-economy-keeps-the-growth-up.html
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Morocco’s Royal Think Tank Issues Report on Economic Crisis: Diagnosis Right, Therapy Wrong!
 Lahcen Achy Web Commentary, August 7, 2009

Morocco has so far managed to limit the impact of the international financial crisis on its economy. Real challenges facing the country existed long before the crisis, however, and are likely to persist beyond recovery. A report recently published by the royal think tank, the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES), has identified three key findings. According to IRES, the challenges facing Morocco emanate primarily from a lack of leadership at the decision-making level, inconsistent economic policies, and the absence of effective governmental communication. Though the diagnosis is accurate, the proposed recommendations fail to address the real roots of the problem.

For the first time, the Royal Institute for Strategic Studies (IRES) took a decisive stance regarding the challenges facing the Kingdom by publishing this first report assessing the impact of the international financial and economic crisis on Morocco and future public policy challenges. The public has long been awaiting such a step as IRES had been criticized in the press for its resounding silence on the issue up till now. The royal think tank has identified the key issues that impede policy making in Morocco, and revealed the risks and critical socio-economic challenges that must be addressed.

The report identifies the channels through which the international crisis has impacted the Moroccan economy —trade, tourism, remittances, and foreign direct investment —and underlines five potential risks that Morocco might face in the case of prolonged global recession. Those risks include the exhaustion of foreign exchange reserves; decline in budgetary room to finance government programs; a slowdown in domestic demand; and increased unemployment and poverty. These changes in turn would impact social stability and expose the financial sector to the adverse effects of default by insolvent households and firms.

The report suggests a four-part road map for Morocco’s future policies. The first part recommends strengthening social cohesion through democracy, good governance, and the reinforcement of social safety by more efficient and effective social policies. The second part ―improving governance by rationalizing and effectively implementing economic and social policy ―requires leadership and the development of an effective communication strategy that allows the people to understand both the gains and the sacrifices involved.

The third part recommends strengthening Morocco’s competitiveness by modernizing its productive sectors and improving product diversification and technology. Finally, the fourth part focuses on regional integration —with Europe as the priority, along with the reinforcement of economic links with sub-Saharan Africa, and a conditional and selective orientation toward the Maghreb.

Although the report’s analysis is not particularly new, it endorses many of the findings of academics, journalists, and international organizations on both the conduct and the performance of public policy in Morocco. The World Bank’s 2007 Investment Climate Assessment, for example, identified the lack of leadership and institutional organization as key deficits, concluding that the real problem in Morocco is not so much about what to do but about how to do it. The establishment of a new parallel structure would not answer the urgent need for empowering the executive and legislative institutions that are already in place, but lack the power to effectively fulfill their functions.

The IRES report suggests creating a “coordination entity” tasked with ensuring coherence and consistency among government bodies and programs. However, there is a risk that such an entity would only add to an already complex bureaucracy. Ensuring coherence and providing leadership is a key task of any prime minister, while monitoring and assessing government programs and their implementation falls under the purview of parliament. An ad hoc coordination office would only interfere with the role of existing institutions, creating an extra layer in a complicated and dysfunctional landscape.

The real challenge in Morocco is not to create a new ad hoc institution but to provide sufficient authority to the prime minister and parliament so they can discharge their existing responsibilities effectively. The prime minister cannot explain the tradeoffs implied in policy decisions to the public if he is not empowered to make those decisions. And parliament cannot play its monitoring role if the prime minister, the person accountable for decisions, is not actually the decision maker. The problems revealed by the report are caused by an excessive concentration of power, the lack of democratic governance, and ineffective political participation. There is, therefore, no real need for new institutions, but existing institutions must become more effective. This is particularly essential at a time of rising economic and social challenges.

In short, the royal think tank has identified the key issues that impede policy making in Morocco, and revealed the risks and critical socio-economic challenges that must be addressed. It has also gone one step further, by acknowledging the need for more democracy, transparent intergovernmental communication, and better control of economic policies. However, it fails to follow to its logical conclusion ―the need for more democracy, and effective and accountable institutions. The establishment of a new parallel structure would not answer the urgent need for empowering the executive and legislative institutions that are already in place, but lack the power to effectively fulfill their functions.
http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=23486&prog=zgp&proj=zme
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Morocco... and more : La Dolce Vita takes you on exotic, delicious trip.
Posted: Aug. 6, 2009 Sweet. Savory. Tangy. Spicy. Crisp. Tender.

The dishes at La Dolce Vita, a pan-Mediterranean restaurant on the east side, can be any one of those, or all of those together. Some of the best dishes there are the ones with roots in Morocco, where owner Tarik El Bahmi is from. It's a cuisine that noted author Paula Wolfert has called extraordinary, and it's not easy to find in Milwaukee. (The only other Milwaukee restaurant I know of regularly serving any Moroccan food these days is La Merenda, which offers briwat - also spelled briouat - often referred to as a Moroccan egg roll.)

La Dolce Vita's menu is brief but touches on the classics of Moroccan flavors and foods, along with a few dishes inspired by Spain and Italy, its neighbors to the north and northeast. Most of the dishes I tried by chef Saad Semia were marked by lovely, complex flavors; a bouquet of spices - cinnamon, cumin, ginger, turmeric and black pepper are among the most commonly used - enriched the dishes without trampling on them.

At night, vivid blue neon outlining this storefront restaurant on Farwell announces its presence. Take one of the 32 seats; you can choose from a booth; a counter at the window especially nice for single diners or customers awaiting takeout orders; or a long, white, button-back banquette, facing stylish, translucent orange chairs.

The look here is modern, but El Bahmi's extensive remodeling of this former Cousins Subs shop evokes old Morocco, with its whitewashed walls, arches and cobalt blue trim. (Even the bathroom's a knockout, with handsome tile and a cascading-water faucet.)

It's by no means a formal dining room - a counter with menu board on the wall behind it, over a pass-through window to the kitchen, accommodates diners who want to order takeout, and several flat-screen TVs are tuned to sporting events or, on one visit, the extreme eating of "Man v. Food."

Nothing extreme here; portions are reasonable, and prices max out at $12.95. Pastilla (sometimes spelled bisteeya, $11.95) is a must. The classic garnish of cinnamon and powdered sugar sprinkled over the 6-inch pie combined for a perfume that rose from the plate. Tender shredded chicken, toasted almonds and lavish spices filled the casing of phyllo dough, baked crisp and golden.

The dynamic duo of Moroccan cooking, preserved lemon and green olives, assert themselves in saffron lemon chicken ($9.95). Baked until the meat was falling off the bone, the half-chicken rose to glory with the tang of olives and mellow essence of lemon. It's served with fries or saffron rice; the rice was indeed saffron yellow, but the distinctive flavor of saffron didn't come through.

A couple of Moroccan classics are new to the regular menu, after proving to be popular daily specials: couscous, which refers to both the grain-like pasta and the stew served with it, and tagine, the name for the thickened stew and for the cone-shaped vessel in which it's cooked.

Both were flavorful dishes to savor: Tagine Marrakesh ($12.95), tender chunks of beef with zucchini and carrot that came topped with fries, and sweet La Dolce Couscous ($12.95), tender pieces of chicken with chickpeas, sweetened further by raisins and enlivened with spices.

Panini I tried were delicious, too, particularly the excellent pressed sandwich made with robust beef-and-lamb merguez ($8.95), the North African sausage. Grilled tomato and onion and sun-dried tomato mayonnaise enhanced the flavors.

I had mixed luck with the two flatbreads I tried; the flatbread di Napoli ($6.95) with asiago cheese and caramelized onions on a slightly sweet dough was very good, but La Pane Dolce ($8.95) - the dough rolled around a filling of bland spinach, goat cheese and a bit of mushroom - didn't deliver the flavor I expected, a rarity here.

One of several entrée-sized salads, La Dolce ($8.50) combined spinach, mandarin orange slices, raisins and walnuts in sherry-honey vinaigrette - a little too much dressing than was necessary. It was a lightly sweet, lovely salad, though it was missing the fried-turnip garnish described on the menu. And from the menu description, I expected the Moroccan salad ($5.95) to be only cucumber, red onion, tomato and green pepper; instead, it was mostly lettuce, with the other veggies tossed in.

Appetizers were another pleasure, from the zaalo (sometimes spelled zaalook, $4.95), grilled eggplant mashed with tomato and garlic, to the tender and spicy-hot calamari a la plancha ($7.50), served with jalapeño mayonnaise.

Olives ($2.95) - big, small, ripe, green - served in a fiery marinade with red pepper seeds, preserved lemon and chopped parsley were positively addictive, though we could have used appetizer plates or a bowl to deposit the pits. Only the Spanish-style tortilla del malaga ($5.95) disappointed; the thin cake of eggs, potato, mushroom and peppers was overcooked when I had it.

A round of appetizers would be great to share over a bottle of wine, most of which are under $30. The brief list is interesting enough, and most wines are available by the glass. La Dolce Vita also serves beer and mixed drinks.

Several desserts ($4.95) will let diners end the meal on a sweet note. A molten cake with deep chocolate flavor and a noticeable kick from cayenne pepper was quite good, though the second time I had it, it was underbaked and simply collapsed. A wedge of flan was creamy, and tiramisu nicely goosed with espresso.

And if you want to end the meal with a Moroccan tradition, order tea, flavored with fresh mint.
Personable servers checked in with us frequently. Aside from a couple of missteps, such as not clearing all the used plates between courses and forgetting to replace a cleared fork at one meal, service was solid. All were knowledgeable about the menu and at ease with making recommendations. And though it was busy during one lunch hour for the sole server, she kept the meal moving efficiently.

Modern white plates match the restaurant's aesthetic, but they've apparently had a hard life since the restaurant opened in March; several that held my dinners were chipped and should be repaired or replaced. Fortunately, what was on the dishes held my interest. La Dolce Vita's a welcome addition to Milwaukee's ethnic dining scene.

LA DOLCE VITA
1673 N. Farwell Ave.
(414) 277-7750 or (414) 277-7751
mydolce-vita.com
** 1/2 (good to very good)
Food: ***
Service: ** 1/2
Ambience:** 1/2
Fare: Mediterranean with emphasis on Moroccan
Atmosphere: Traditional Moroccan style with contemporary edge
Hours: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Thursday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday-Saturday
Prices: Entrées, $6.95-$12.95
Parking: On street
Wheelchair access: Through back entry
Payment: MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Discover
Smoking policy: Hookah and cigarettes at outside tables only
Reservations: Accepted
Noise level: Chatty at peak times
Deptolla's star ratings
**** Extraordinary. Consistently outstanding in all areas, including food, service, atmosphere and value. A first-class dining experience.

*** Very good. Most menu items are excellent, though a few might miss the mark. Service generally is very good. A memorable meal is guaranteed.

** Good. A worthy restaurant; food is generally appealing.
* Fair. A few entrées may be very good; most are average. Work is needed.
Carol Deptolla dines anonymously with food and drink paid for by the Journal Sentinel. To sign up for the Journal Sentinel's weekly food and dining newsletter, visit jsonline.com/features/dining and click on "Dish."

Contact Carol Deptolla at (414) 224-2841 or at cdeptolla@journalsentinel.com.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/dining/52593102.html
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Feast after fast worth waiting for: Moroccan recipes help mark Ramadan
Aug. 15, 2009

Soon, on the first night the new crescent moon is visible in the sky, the month of Ramadan will begin.
This year, the Muslim month of fasting begins on Aug. 22 and is set to end Sept. 20.
While the days are long periods of self-restraint - no water, no food - the evenings are full of feast and fellowship. Days start with a small, pre-dawn meal and end with a full meal that satisfies the stomach and the soul. The month ends with the Eid-al-Fitr, a celebration in which food plays a prominent role.

The recipes here are from the predominantly Muslim country of Morocco. As practitioners enter into their holy season, this meal reflects the rich traditions and tastes of North Africa, one Muslim part of the world. The recipes are from "The North African Kitchen" by Fiona Dunlop (Interlink Books, 2008, $29.95), who merges the food with narratives about the cooks who have shared their recipes within the pages of the book.

This book was particularly attractive to me, taking me back many years and many miles to the city of Fez, Morocco. I visited there while studying abroad in college. The recipe for lamb stew, or tagine, is one that Dunlop received from a Fez cook who works in one of the city's many cafes.

The smell of this fragrant stew while it was cooking took me right back to the city's tangled web of streets. I remember marveling at the heaps of spices sold at the open-air stands throughout the city's medina. We had some unexpected guests the night I served this meal; two extra school-age boys joined us for dinner.
One of them joked that the only thing he knew about Morocco came from the old Bob Hope and Bing Crosby movie, "Road to Morocco."

This meal broadened some horizons. And as the Muslim holy month draws near, nothing could be better.
Recipes
This simple flatbread, from "The North African Kitchen," is best served straight out of the oven.
Moroccan Flatbread
Makes 6 servings
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
Large pinch of salt
1 heaping tablespoon yeast
¼ cup lukewarm water
1 cup water
1 tablespoon sesame seeds (optional)   
 In large bowl, mix together the flours and salt. Blend yeast with lukewarm water, let proof, then gradually add it - along with most of the 1 cup water - to form a sticky dough. Knead vigorously on an oiled work surface about 15 minutes, until elastic and smooth. (You might find it necessary to add more flour to the dough or oil to the surface.) Work sesame seeds into dough, if desired.

On greased baking sheet, make two large balls, roll them out and flatten to ½-inch thickness. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise 1 hour in a warm place.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Prick each round of dough with a fork and bake in preheated oven 20 to 30 minutes.
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This is the national salad of Tunisia - if there is such a thing - according to "The North African Kitchen."
Tunisian Salad
Makes 6 to 8 servings
4 small cucumbers, diced
1 small red onion, peeled and diced
3 tomatoes, diced
3 green peppers, diced
2 tart apples, diced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon dried mint
Salt to taste
1 tablespoon capers
Olives and fresh mint leaves for garnish       
 In large salad bowl, mix together all the chopped vegetables and the apples. Add lemon juice and sprinkle with dried mint. Season to taste.

Dress with capers, olives and mint leaves and serve immediately.
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While lamb is certainly more authentic for this stew, beef is a less expensive option. This recipe is one provided by a cook from the city of Fez, Morocco.

Lamb with Caramelized Carrots
Makes 4 servings
1 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoons ground ginger
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon saffron threads, rubbed between the palms of your hands
2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons water
2 pounds boneless leg of lamb, cut into large chunks
5 large onions, peeled and roughly chopped
5 garlic cloves, peeled
Small bunch cilantro, finely chopped (or less, to taste)
1 cup water
5 to 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 pound carrots, cut into julienne slices
5 to 6 tablespoons sugar       
 Combine the white pepper, ginger, black pepper, saffron and olive oil. Stir in the 2 tablespoons water. Cover lamb pieces with mixture and let marinate 10 to 15 minutes. In skillet over low to medium heat, brown lamb 20 minutes, turning to make sure all sides are browned.

In large pot, mix onion, garlic and cilantro, then add the lamb and the 1 cup water. Cover and cook at least 2 hours over low to medium heat, stirring and checking occasionally to see if more water is needed.

In separate saucepan, heat vegetable oil. Add carrots and sugar, cover and cook 5 minutes over low heat. Uncover the carrots and continue cooking, stirring frequently, while they gradually caramelize.

Remove pieces of lamb from sauce with a slotted spoon and set aside. Strain sauce, pushing onion through a sieve with back of spoon. Return strained sauce to pan and cook over high heat. Taste for saltiness, adding more if desired, and cook, stirring continuously, about 20 minutes until reduced to a thick sauce. Return lamb to sauce and heat a few minutes.

Place lamb on a serving dish and arrange carrot strips around it.
Tester's note: The cilantro flavor is very dominant in this dish. Use less for a less-pronounced flavor.
Kathy Mangold lives with her family in Wauwatosa. E-mail her at kathymangold@sbcglobal.net.
http://www.jsonline.com/features/food/52889732.html
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