Morocco’s Argan Trees Rooted In Economic Empowerment of Women

Rabat – As tomorrow, May 10, marks the UN-designated International Day of Argania, the contribution of the argan tree takes international centerstage. Argan oil is a very famous oil that is native to Morocco and is produced from Argania Spinosa; an important species of flower plant that is sought to have the potential to transform Moroccan regions and enhance opportunities for many people.

The Amazigh, have inhabited the argan area of Morocco and have made a lifestyle out of the argan tree ever since, sparking a worldwide gateway to its multifaceted benefits.

Argan nuts are being turned to argan oil serving in many fields and benefiting society from different standpoints. The beneficial oil is praised by the beauty industry and the medical field, as it helps with healing scars,conditioning properties for skin and hair and serves as a daily helpful product.

Extending beyond usage in beauty products, argan oil is evidenced as an important food. It is used in bread,as a finishing flavor when added to the famous Moroccan couscous, salads, fish and tagines. It is also a primary ingredient in the Moroccan thick brown paste Amlou.

Argan trees, deeply rooted down to 35 meters, play a pivotal role in slowing desertification and are important for the natural ecosystem. As it is one of the oldest trees in Morocco, all the world’s resources of argan oil are exported from the country.

A key to socio-economic development

Morocco’s National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and the Argan Tree (ANDOZA) has significantly progressed in societal development within their designated oasis and argan zones. The agency’s contributions to creating thousands of jobs and mitigating climate change have been captivating.

From May 8 to 12, ANDOZA is organizing an event in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture. Enthusiasts of the argan tree will gather in Agadir to attend this third edition of the International Argan Tree Symposium; that will be held under the high patronage of King Mohammed VI.

On the first day of the International Argan Tree Event, women’s cooperatives, composed of members from diverse backgrounds, were highlighted for their efforts in the sector.

These cooperatives displayed their unique argan oil products to a wide enthusiastic audience. Products were sourced from the regions of Marrakesh-Tensift-El Haouz, Guelmim-Oued Noun, and Agadir Souss-Massa

Their successes not only showcase the appeal of argan oil within the Moroccan community, but also demonstrate their collective endeavor to empower women to contribute to the economic sector.

ANDZOA’s event proved to be a significant medium for women’s cooperatives to gain visibility, amplifying their impact to reach communities.

Women empowerment at the center

The decision to put women cooperatives center stage at ANDZOA’s event is testament to the larger role that the argan industry plays in boosting socio-economic development in Morocco’s southwest regions.

The cooperatives were just some of the many female organizations in rural areas that benefit and make a living out of the production of argan oil. By engaging in this industry, women in these regions can achieve financial comfort and experience social well-being.

Fadma Haddi, is one such example of a woman whose life and income are highly interconnected to argan oil harvesting. Amazigh, and raised in Agadir, Haddi, like other women and girls in her position, has been fortunate to reap the benefits from engaging in the argan industry in order to improve the quality of her life, shielding her from societal obstacles like child marriage.

By becoming a member of the Union of Women’s Cooperatives for the production and marketing of argan oil (UCFA), Haddi’s financial state has significantly improved. This membership has not only enabled her to contribute to her household expenses but also allowed her to invest in her children’s education.

Under the leadership of Jamila Idbourouss, the director of UCFA, meaningful progress has been made in supporting a lot of marginalized women in rural areas. Through an online platform that UCFA created, called Tissaliwine, Idbourouss has transformatively provided these women the opportunity to sell their argan oil products globally.

This online platform has transformed the economic prospects of these impoverished women in remote regions, by providing them with access to a wider market. Utilizing Tissaliwine has offered them a business opportunity for them to connect with customers directly, fostering a community within the platform to help them share knowledge and support among potential buyers.

In these ways, the Tissaliwine platform serves as a vital resource, facilitating the jobs of these skilled women, boosting their economic status and fostering their confidence and independence.

As these women’s cooperatives continue to flourish, they set up a promising future for this community in argan oil production, involving a more holistic movement that is instrumental to the social inclusion of Amazigh women in marginalized regions.