Morocco’s Agricultural Fair Spotlights Growing Demand for Organic Farming

1,700 exhibitors participated in this fair, which welcomed 1.25 million visitors in 2018, with the particularity this year of a space dedicated to organic farming. Several potential customers have marked their presence in this organic space, given the scarcity of supply at the national level.

"Moroccans show a strong interest in organic, but less than 5% consume it. Because to buy it, you have to find it," said Khalid Azim, a Moroccan researcher in organic agriculture.

In 2011, the Green Morocco Plan was put in place to boost organic farming, through a program to cultivate 40,000 hectares by 2020, and the establishment of regulations and a certification system. Part of the program was able to be executed in September 2018, in particular the certification and the logo, but less than 1/4 of the surfaces have been cultivated.

"Now that there are regulations and a logo, this will encourage a little reluctant producers to move towards organic," however estimated the Secretary General of FIMABIO, pending the recognition of the Moroccan organic label by the European Union, the main importer of the country.

In addition, several producers remain discouraged by the lack of financial support from the State, in particular the reimbursement of certification fees and conversion costs, including equipment, organic seeds and inputs. Added to this, the distribution channel is far from being organized for the moment, and remains limited to a network serving a particular segment of consumers.