Adverse weather, including floods in the north and strong winds and cold in the south, has severely hit Morocco's red fruit sector, causing production losses and export delays. Growers and exporters report falling volumes, quality issues, and unmet contracts, while trying to save what could be saved of the season. DR ‹ › This winter has taken a heavy toll on soft fruit growers and exporters in Morocco. From flooding in the north to low temperatures and strong winds in the south, two key hubs for red fruit production, recovery has been difficult. In the Gharb and Loukkos, growers whose farms were submerged earlier this year due to flooding and adverse weather and whose greenhouse plastic and support wires were damaged are struggling to get back on track. «Recovery remains difficult», Amine Bennani, president of the Moroccan Association of Soft Fruit Growers, told Yabiladi on Tuesday.
Weeks after the severe weather, growers are still trying to «save what can be saved of the season» and repair damaged infrastructure. However, even these efforts are facing ongoing challenges. «We are facing material and supply issues», Bennani said, referring mainly to shortages of greenhouse plastic. «Producers of greenhouse plastic have limited daily production capacity and are under pressure to supply growers affected in both the Loukkos and Souss regions», he explained. «This situation cannot be resolved in just a few days, especially with the added slowdown caused by the Eid holiday, which halted production». A season marked by disruptions Losses in the north, estimated at around 10% of the season's volume, have also impacted exports. «We are significantly behind schedule. By the end of February, export volumes were down by 13%», Bennani said. This decline was compounded by limited production in January and February due to adverse weather and disruptions at the port of Tangier. Bennani also pointed to operational issues at the port that can affect product quality. «We need to find ways to accelerate the transit of Moroccan products, especially red fruits, particularly raspberries, through the port of Tangier, as disruptions can threaten product quality and impact final prices», he said. Regarding government aid promised to growers affected by flooding, Bennani said that support has yet to materialize. «A census has been conducted, but we have not received anything so far», he noted, stressing that growers have had to «act quickly to save the season». «State subsidies will certainly help once they are received, but for now, we must move quickly to save what can be saved», he added. Shrinking export volumes In southern Morocco, particularly in the Souss-Massa region, strong winds and falling temperatures have also taken a toll on red fruit production. «We have recorded a 30% drop in production compared to last year», said Sofia Rbei from Afripick, a local red fruit and avocado exporter. Beyond the winds, Rbei pointed to unusually cold weather this year, which delayed production. «When production finally began, temperatures were still not favorable», she said. This has affected exports as well as «agreements and programs with importers». «We usually have year-round contracts with importers, but we were unable to meet the promised volumes», she explained, citing both reduced output and declining quality. «We were in discussions with high-end supermarkets in Europe, but since the start of the season, we have not been able to supply them. It would have been our first collaboration, but we did not have the premium quality required», Rbei said. The drop in volume has also driven prices up. «Prices have risen sharply due to the drop in production, reaching levels not seen in six or seven years. However, producers are not looking for higher prices, they need volume to sustain their activity and keep their workers employed». Despite the setbacks, exporters remain hopeful for the spring cycle. «In Agadir, we lost 30% of the fall cycle, and winter production was insufficient. But we are now hopeful that the spring cycle will help us save the season», Rbei concluded.
