Rabat – According to figures released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Agriculture, the production of dates in Morocco is estimated at 115,000 tonnes for the 2023-24 crop season.
This was achieved on an area of almost 51,000 hectares with 6.5% compared to the previous season despite the difficult weather conditions, the same source stated.
This increase was achieved thanks to the start of production on new plantations, notably in the oriental region.
However, the “best” performance was recorded at the national level by the Draa-Tafilalet region, which accounted for 79% of the nation’s total production of date palms, or 91,000 tonnes.
On the other hand, the regions of Souss-Massa, the oriental, and Guelmim-Oued Noun accounted for the remainder of production by 21%, with 24,000 tonnes.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this season’s success shows that the date palm industry is doing well, as a result of the May 2023 signing of a new program-contract intended to strengthen its position within the agricultural industry.
This new program contract outlines the State’s and the “Maroc Dattes” national interprofessional federation of the date industry’s promises to implement the industry’s development plan and oversee the professional organization’s management by 2030.
“The overall budget committed to implementing the actions planned under this Contract-Program amounts, over the period 2021-2030, to almost MAD 7.47 billion ($725 million), of which MAD 3.6 billion ($349 million) as Maroc Dattes’ contribution and MAD 3.9 billion ($378 million) as the State’s contribution,” the ministry explained.
The sector’s productivity is expected to increase dramatically under the new growth framework, reaching 300,000 tonnes by 2030.
Another item on the agenda is to grow plantations outside of the typical palm grove from 14,000 to 21,000 hectares by putting 2 million vitro seedlings in the ground.
The plan also calls for the planting of 5 million seedlings, including 3 million in the traditional palm grove.
Read also: Morocco Becomes World’s Third Largest Dates Importer in 2022
