Several owners and drivers of agricultural machinery are blocked for the harvest. They were unable to obtain authorization to travel to the regions where harvesting operations have already begun due to the state of emergency.
The health crisis has had no impact on the agricultural labor force in Lot-et-Garonne. Moroccans and Europeans are the seasonal workers employed in the fields and greenhouses.
Despite the whims of the climate, the regional agricultural department ensures that the needs of the Casablanca-Settat region will be met by uninterrupted production and regular supply to the various markets in the region.
Olive plantations in the northern region of Morocco continue to benefit from government support through the Ministry of Agriculture. A program to develop 4,200 hectares of olive groves has been launched.
Thousands of day laborers without work permits in Spain are demanding a massive regularization from the Spanish authorities. This, to facilitate the strawberry picking campaign.
The first effects of the coronavirus pandemic are already there. Thus, some Moroccan consumers have already noted a sharp increase in the prices of vegetables and legumes.
The UN and the WTO are sounding the alarm on a risk of "food shortage" that could be caused by disruptions related to the coronavirus in international trade and food supply chains.
Due to the coronavirus epidemic and the strengthening of containment rules, including the closure of open markets, Moroccan fruits and vegetables, which are very popular in the country, will no longer be able to cross the borders of France.
In Europe, fruits and vegetables from Morocco continue to be in vogue despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Europeans are facing a myriad of dysfunctions in supply chains, including a lack of manpower.
Even though it is not established that covid-19 can be transmitted through food or food packaging, it is recommended to place a strong emphasis on hygiene and proper cleaning of fruits and vegetables.
The governor of the province of Tiznit has launched a program to rehabilitate the argan grove. On an area of 100 ha, the rehabilitation focuses on the regeneration of the argan tree to improve the performance of the existing argan groves.
Moroccan agriculture is facing the third consecutive year of drought, with low rainfall and high temperatures. This is bad news for the cereal harvest, which will have trouble keeping all its promises.