Morocco wants to increase date production

Dates can become the growth engine of the agricultural economy for National Agricultural Development oasis zones.

The program of the Agency aims to improve management as well as production techniques and conditioning. It is upgrading irrigation infrastructure in the oases and planting 300,000 seedlings annually that are disease resistance to improve yields. In total, the program is making these improvements for 48,000 hectares of palm groves in all areas of production. The aim is to produce 160,000 tons of dates in 2020 and to export 5,000 tons.

It is a huge challenge given the current production of 90,000 tons and exports of 1,200 tons. The country imports 30,000 tons of dates per year, 40% come from Iraq and 35% from Tunisia. Morocco is the eighth largest producer in the world with 3% of total production. The production area covers 13 provinces in the south and southeast of Morocco: Errachidia, Figuig, Tinghir, Ouarzazate, Tata and Zagora Guelmim.

source : leconomiste com