Moroccan olive growing faces many challenges in 2024

Olive oil production is going through a difficult period in Morocco. In Marrakech, the regional association of olive growers in this region sounded the alarm by sending a letter to the regional directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture, indicating a worrying absence of flowering of olive trees after an already difficult year. The president of the Moroccan Interprofessional Olive Federation (INTERPROLIVE) attributed this situation to the effects of climate change, citing lack of irrigation, a rainfall deficit and abnormally high temperatures even during traditionally cooler seasons. The repercussions of this low production were not long in coming. Olive oil prices have reached historic highs, rising as high as 140 dirhams per liter in some regions, compared to a previous average of 90 dirhams. “Today, the olive tree is sold on the tree at 15 dirhams and oil will reach 150 dirhams next year, and factories will close and their workers will be laid off,” warned Kamal Ben Khaled, ...