Every year, in November, the olive harvest begins. A key moment for Moroccans who favor olive oil, nicknamed “green gold”. But climatic hazards led to a dizzying drop in production.
Professionals in the sector are worried. The drought has a “profound” impact on the sector, affecting quantities and prices. The Ministry of Agriculture expects a production of 90,000 tonnes of olive oil, well below national needs, estimated between 130,000 and 140,000 tonnes.
Ahmed El Bouari, Minister of Agriculture, confirms this drop: “The production planned for the olive sector this year is estimated at 950,000 tonnes”, a decrease of 11% compared to the previous season and 40% compared to to a normal year. The cause is drought and high temperatures during flowering.
To read: Morocco: Olive oil fraud
To stem the crisis, the government suspended import duties on olive oil. The objective: to guarantee supply and stabilize prices. Exports will be regulated to preserve national stocks.
-Rachid Benali, president of the Moroccan Interprofessional Olive Federation, points out the impact of climate change. “The problem is not limited to drought,” he explains, “but also includes various climatic fluctuations.” The increase in prices can also be explained by the increase in production costs.
Bouazza El Kharrati, president of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, denounces “the decline in the yield of olive trees and the destruction of vast areas of olive groves”. He also points out “the immoral practices of certain speculators” who are taking advantage of the situation.
The olive sector is, however, a key sector of the Moroccan economy. It generates more than 50 million working days per year and represents 68% of the country’s arboricultural areas.
Despite the difficulties, a slight hope remains. The development of modern irrigation techniques and the choice of suitable olive varieties could allow Morocco to revive olive oil production.
