Olive Production in Morocco to Increase by 21% in 2022

Rabat- Morocco’s olive production is predicted to increase by 21% in 2022, compared to the previous year.

In response to a question from the House of Councillors on Tuesday, October 26, regarding the new agricultural season, Morocco’s  Minister of Agriculture, Mohamed Sadiki, explained that the “citrus production is expected to increase by 14%, and olive production by 21% compared to the previous season.”

The Minister added that production of “the main fruit trees during this season will be significantly higher than the previous one, according to initial forecasts, especially if there will be favorable climate conditions.”

Sadiki also noted that the agricultural sector plays a crucial role in achieving food security in Morocco, as evidenced during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. A previous report from the High Commission for Planning (HCP) attributed Morocco’s economic recovery to a 19.3% increase in the agricultural added value and a rebound of 11.7% in non-agricultural sectors.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, olive trees represent 65% of the national arboreal soil, and have long been the most abundantly harvested product in Morocco. 

Morocco’s olive sector is a crucial source of employment, providing over 51 million labor hours  annually, which is equivalent to 380,000 permanent jobs.

The olive sector contributed to 19% of Morocco's domestic edible oil use, and generated an annual average of MAD 1.8 billion (approximately $180 million) from exports for the period 2013-2017.

Morocco has recently implemented a new agriculture strategy entitled the Green Generation 2020-2030.

The strategy's core objectives are to provide support to young people to invest in 1 million hectares of arable lands, creating around 350,000 job opportunities, and increasing agricultural exports to MAD 60 billion ($6.6 billion) by 2030.

The agriculture sector in Morocco contributes to 19% of the country’s GDP, and the industry is one of Morocco’s most vital economic sectors.

The GDP number is divided into two categories:  agriculture (15%) and agro-industry (4%).

The agricultural sector employs over 4 million people, including an estimate of 100,000 people in the agro-industry.

source: moroccoworldnews by Amal El Attaq