Morocco: Seed potato import record

Morocco has a well-organized cultivation of potatoes, but is dependent on the import of seed potatoes. Seed potato imports in Morocco have increased and reached the highest level in five years: 60,000 tons in the 2022/23 season. Given the rather large volumes of local ware potato cultivation (which reached a record high of 1.64 million tons in 2021), it is not surprising that the demand for high quality seed potatoes in Morocco is quite high. Moroccan importers therefore continue to increase seed potato imports, with the season running from October to May and peaking in winter. After dates, seed potatoes are the most imported products in Morocco in volume and fifth in value. In 2022/23, Morocco spent more than $40 million on seed potato imports. Morocco is a net exporter of ware potatoes, with a total export of 54,000 tons in 2022. In the summer of 2022, Morocco faced its worst drought in the last three decades, which negatively affected cultivation. Weather anomalies are believed ...