Rabat — Moroccan farmers are reportedly struggling to find agricultural workers, despite high unemployment affecting all sectors, including the agricultural industry.
Hortdaily shed light on the struggles faced by Moroccan growers, stressing that the issue is a new and different kind of scarcity that has emerged.
“Moroccan growers are struggling to mobilize manpower and sound the alarm about an imminent crisis, the first signs of which are already present,” the same source said, quoting growers’ concerns.
One of the speakers described the situation as a “labor scarcity” that affects all regions across the country, impacting the profitability of different sectors.
Othmane Michbal, the deputy general manager of Domaines Zniber, described the situation as “so dire today that labor is sourced anywhere from 100 to 150 kilometers away from production sites at a high cost.”
Laraisse Esserhini, director of the Moroccan Association of Fruit and Vegetable Exporting Producers, echoed the same concerns, noting that the shortage of workers is extending to all production zones across the country.
Immigration is one of the factors behind the shortage, as many Moroccan agricultural workers prefer to go to European countries on seasonal or permanent contracts to seek better opportunities.
On an annual basis, dozens of agricultural workers flock to Spain in different seasons, including for strawberry collection campaigns.
Unemployment or low pay rates are among the major reasons why Moroccans seek to leave the country for Europe or beyond.
Recent data from the Moroccan High Commission for Planning (HCP) showed in November last year that the unemployment rate climbed to 13.6% in the third quarter of 2024.
This means that unemployment inched up from 13.5% to 13.6%, showing a continuous trend in the lack of job opportunities, both in rural and urban areas.
The statistics showed that unemployment shows the largest rise in the construction sector. The challenges also extend to the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors.
Climate crisis affects the sector
In addition to labor scarcity, Morocco is also facing other challenges driven by climate change. The North African country is enduring a seventh dry season due to the lack of rainfall and limited water reserves.
Recent statistics from government sources show that the country has a capacity of one and a half years of potable drinking water.
Water scarcity concerns led to several cautious measures, including the cancellation of the Eid Al Adha sacrifice ritual this year, as well as rational water use recommendations from the government.
However, these concerns come amid the continuous production of water-thirsty crops, including watermelon and avocados.
Recent reports showed that Morocco claimed a new place among the world’s key avocado exporters. It has crossed the 100,000-ton mark in avocado exports, EastFruit reported.
Parliament Member Fatima Tamni, who spoke to Morocco World News (MWN), condemned the lack of restrictions on the production of water-thirsty crops amid drought.
“The government is not fulfilling its role; it has not reduced exports or decreased the quantities of crops grown, all of which deplete water resources,” she told MWN, noting that the focus should first be on self-sufficiency and food security so that Morocco can support purchasing power and curb inflation.
“The government has not considered reducing the vegetables and fruits directed for export, including avocados, export is possible but not at the expense of Morocco’s food security due to rising prices,” she added.
