Moroccan tomato volumes expected to return to normal by mid-April

Published Mar 14, 2023

Tridge summary

A severe cold snap in Morocco has led to an 80% drop in tomato production, with temperatures falling below 6 degrees, causing the plants to enter a vegetative zero state. However, with improved temperatures, there is hope to save the tomato season and reduce the production gap from last year. Growers will need to revitalize the soil and balance nutrition for the tomato roots to recover. Additionally, measures will need to be taken to prevent diseases, particularly the ToBRFV virus. Domestic demand for tomatoes remains high due to the low production, and export quotas are expected to decrease, with restrictions potentially being lifted by the end of April.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

The cold snap that Morocco experienced at the beginning of the year caused an acute decline in tomato production, leading to a more than 80% drop in daily volumes, according to the Moroccan Association of Producers and Exporters of Fruits and Vegetables. Minimal temperatures were too low, ranging from 1 to 6 degrees, which has put the plants under the state of vegetative zero and reduced production from 2000 to only 250-300 kg/ha/day. Temperatures have improved, according to Mustapha Aouragh, a Moroccan agronomist specializing in tomato production: "Temperatures reached 13 to 18 degrees of thermal difference at night and 17-27 during the day, in the Souss Massa region, with a humidity level of 70%. These conditions mark the end of the winter, and it is now possible to save the tomato season in Morocco and significantly reduce the production gap compared to last year." "After a winter marked by severely low temperatures, growers have now to revitalize the soil and allow a second ...

Source: Hortidaily