Pepper production in Morocco fell this week due to the arrival of colder temperatures, as well as viral pressure from TSW and PMMV in the Souss Massa region. According to Obeida Mansour, pepper producer in Agadir, the drop reached 30 to 40% of usual volumes on his farms.
“Temperatures have dropped to 8-9°C at night and 20-21°C during the day in this region, which is affecting production yields in our greenhouses. In addition, the harvest loss for producers who have opted for varieties susceptible to the virus is significant. At Universal Peppers we have been fortunate to have adopted resistant varieties on 60% of our hectares this season, but we are also suffering from virus pressure on the rest of the crop.”
The drop in production could result in an increase in prices, although the impact will be felt in the medium term. “The drop in harvest volumes coincides with a drop in demand due to European holidays. From January, with the drop in temperatures, there could be an increase in prices.”
“The producers most affected by the drop in demand at the end of the year are those who grow California peppers, the most sought after in the United Kingdom. At Universal Peppers, we plan to maintain outlets with a minimum of three trucks per week until January, as we grow the Kapi variety, which is appreciated by the Turkish and Arab diaspora in Germany, a huge market, and which is also popular in Eastern Europe.
This year, Morocco reached a new export record for California peppers, according to EastFruit. From January to August, Moroccan suppliers exported nearly 150,000 tonnes of California peppers, 20% more than during the same period in 2023.
For more information:
Obeida Mansour
Universal Peppers
Such. : +212663612461
[email protected]
