In Morocco, labor and water shortages may slow the expansion of small fruits

The Morocco Berry Conference in Agadir showcased the growth and challenges of Morocco's small fruit sector, focusing on blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries. Blueberries have become the dominant crop, making up 50% of the 14,000 hectares dedicated to small fruits and leading in exports with a 33% increase. Despite a reduction in cultivation area, strawberry exports remained stable, while raspberry exports decreased by 4%. The sector faces challenges such as water scarcity and a shortage of manpower, particularly in blueberry production, which has grown rapidly from 10,000 hectares in 2020 to 14,000 hectares in 2024. This labor shortage, exacerbated by low wages, led to a 15% loss in blueberry exports last season. Efforts are underway to improve water efficiency and access deeper resources, but these issues have increased costs and reduced yields. The varietal landscape is diverse, with contributions from Spanish varieties and local nurseries.

A sold-out edition of the Morocco Berry Conference has just ended in Agadir, an event that brought together over 600 professional operators in the “fruit rouges” supply chain, which in Morocco means mainly blueberry, raspberry and strawberry and precisely in this order. In fact, while until 2020 the strawberry was the most widespread crop in the category, since 2021 it has been overtaken by both raspberry and blueberry, according to data presented by Amine Bennani, president of the Moroccan Association of Red Fruit Producers. The sector is worth almost 14,000 hectares in Morocco, of which 50% are blueberry and 32% raspberry. In the last 2023/24 season, strawberries represented 18% of the small fruit surfaces in production. Blueberries are also in first place in the category in terms of exports (over 75,000 tonnes, of which 89% and 11% frozen) and in terms of volume growth: exports increased by 33% compared to the 2023/24 season. While raspberries recorded a 4% drop in exports, ...