The Berkane region in eastern Morocco, one of the country’s bastions of citrus production, is one of the hardest hit by persistent drought. The reduction in cultivated areas and the closure of packing centers have reached dramatic proportions, leading to a drop in overall production and exports of Moroccan citrus fruits. But “the region is ready for an agricultural renaissance, very soon,” assures Essaid El Khounchafi, CEO of Atlas Green Generations.
The impasse of persistent drought
El Khounchafi reports the heavy toll paid to drought: “In Berkane, the area devoted to citrus fruits has increased from 22 to 13 hectares, and only seven of the region’s 17 packing stations are currently operational. We can say that the drought got the better of producers, in an agricultural region par excellence. But fortunately, great efforts are being made to get out of this impasse very quickly. The region will come back in force, not only in the citrus industry, but also in the news. crops.
Other citrus industry sources in the region have reported volumes falling by half compared to a normal season, as well as generally smaller sizes and reduced working hours at packinghouses, contributing to to economic stagnation in the agricultural region.
Major infrastructure projects to revive the region
Faced with this situation, the Grand Oriental region can no longer afford to wait for the rains and must equip itself with the means to develop in a persistent drought, and the model of success comes from the Souss Massa region. According to El Khounchafi, “the production model based on seawater desalination stations has proven effective, provided that the higher cost of water is offset by the choice of retributive crops.” Several desalination stations are currently under construction across Morocco, and our region will soon be equipped with a desalination station under construction in Essaidia. We expect the plant to be operational as early as 2027.”
“Alongside the construction of the desalination plant, work is also underway to raise the Mohammed V dam which serves the region, thereby massively increasing its water volume. We look forward to the upcoming completion of the work, which will ensure a return to normal of agricultural activities”, continues Mr. El Khounchafi.
Also on the logistical level, exporters are awaiting the launch of the new port of Nador. The West Med port of Nador, which will have nothing to envy of the Tangier Med port, will connect us globally to the markets of Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia,” explains Mr. El Khounchafi. The prospects in terms of logistics facilities are very promising for the agricultural export sector.
Exporters and farmers prepare for new business opportunities
“By 2027, when all these infrastructures will be operational, we are also redoubling our efforts to develop new markets. For example, a protocol for the supply of Moroccan clementines to the Japanese market was signed last year and is already in force this season, and others are being negotiated,” he continues.
The private sector, stimulated by the new opportunities opening up in the region, is also preparing to develop its activities, according to Mr. El Khounchafi. “Several technical and commercial trials are underway to implement new crops. The choice of products is vast and, until now, we have only been limited by water stress which paralyzes production.”
“At Atlas Green Generations, we have carried out technical and commercial trials this year for the production of soft fruits, with convincing results. We plan to begin trials for the production of avocados and organic products next season. These products add to our current portfolio of citrus fruits, including clementines, Nadorcott and Maroc Late varieties, melons and watermelons, pomegranates and greenhouse grown vegetables. We are therefore considering extending our range to products. overheads, with production throughout the year We have the means to achieve our ambitions, thanks to more than 25 years of experience in the sector, an exceptional agricultural situation, and soon water resources and logistical infrastructure. sufficient.”
According to El Khounchafi, exporters can count on a long-established customer base: “Despite the drought, we are currently exporting clementines and other fruits and vegetables to key markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, Russia , France and North America, to name a few We supply several supermarket chains with our two brands Berkane Fraicheur and Berkane Freshnet, launched recently. of overhead products to supermarkets.
Challenges to overcome
Other challenges stand in the way of the rehabilitation of the agricultural sector in the Berkane region. The most predictable challenge is labor supply. El Kounchafi comments: “This is a problem that Morocco is starting to seriously encounter. The region’s local workforce is attracted by seasonal work offers in Spain, and we could talk later about competition between Berkane and Huelva to retain the workforce I think we will align, or almost, with Spanish salaries, even if it is too expensive in Moroccan currency.
“We also need an upgrade of the local infrastructure. If all the packing stations come back into operation, they will be sufficient for the new export volumes, but it will certainly be necessary to build a sufficient number of warehouses refrigerated”, concludes Mr. El Khounchafi.
For more information:
Essayed El Khounchafi
Atlas Green Generations
Tel: +212 661976318
E-mail : [email protected]
linkedin.com/in/essaid-el-khounchafi-12658115b
