Olive harvest falls by 30 to 40% in Morocco
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Le Matin
Morocco's olive harvest fell by 30 to 40% year on year, while producers continue to face low selling prices, according to the Moroccan Olive Interprofessional Association (Interprolive). Rising labour costs and stock accumulation among industrial operators are further complicating marketing, according to Interprolive.
Morocco's olive harvest has fallen by 30 to 40% compared with the previous season, according to the Moroccan Olive Interprofessional Association (Interprolive). Despite the lower volumes, prices paid to producers remain low in several regions, the interprofessional body said in a statement published after a meeting of its board of directors.
Weak demand and slowing purchases are leaving farmers with selling prices that, according to Interprolive, do not cover their production and harvesting costs. The rising cost of seasonal labour is further increasing the bill, and producers are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit at the right time: delays in harvesting can result in part of the crop being lost and reduce the quality and market value of the olives.
The difficulties also affect oil mills and canneries, which are an essential outlet for producers. Weak sales and stock accumulation are limiting their ability to buy the harvest, alongside financing difficulties and rising operating costs. Interprolive also considers export incentives insufficient, with foreign marketing conditions, in its view, restricting Moroccan companies' access to new markets.
The interprofessional body calls on the government to act on the conditions for selling the harvest so that prices paid to producers take production and harvesting costs into account. It calls for consideration of debt relief for farmers and increased support for purchasing equipment to mechanise harvesting, as well as easier access to financing for industrial operators. It also calls for the commitments of the sector's programme contract on industrial investment and the modernisation of processing units to be implemented, and for regular monitoring of production, stocks, prices and market needs.
