Morocco’s Berry Exports Thrive: 90% of Crop Reaches Global Markets

According to the head of the agricultural development district of Sidi Allal Tazi, under the Regional Agricultural Development Office of the Gharb (ORMVAG), Mustapha Ait Bella, the production of berries, mainly for export, has not been impacted by the health crisis of the coronavirus. This is justified by the fact that in addition to the favorable soil and climatic conditions, the farmers have diversified their techniques and means in order to optimize irrigation in search of a generous harvest.

Established since 1995 in the commune of Mnasra, 15 km from Kenitra, a berry farm ensures the harvesting in compliance with the barrier gestures decreed by the government, reports Infomediaire. In this farm, between 600 and 700 agricultural workers, mainly women, work in greenhouses. Within this unit, whose total production is intended for export, especially to European countries and the USA, the activity is based on two methods of processing the berry, namely the "fresh" part and the "frozen" part, says a source close to this operation. Due to the coronavirus, preventive measures are taken. This includes the designation of three teams per shift to avoid the gathering of workers and employees within the unit without penalizing the activity.

To establish itself on the European market, maximum vigilance and rigor is required. "We are required to comply with European standards and currently with Brexit, the British markets are very demanding in terms of the quality of agricultural products," added one of the managers of this farm. "The harvesting of strawberries, being fragile, requires maximum vigilance, and if the strawberry is detached from its stem, it would not be edible and would be the subject of a complaint and its return," he confided. For this great effort of rigor shown by the farm and its processing unit, they have obtained the GLOBAL G.A.P certification: Good Agricultural Practice intended for producers respecting the standards of quality and food safety.