Essaouira Province Achieves Milestones in Expanding Argan Forests

Thursday 01 February 2024 - 14:12

In a remarkable stride towards bolstering Morocco's commitment to expanding argan forests, the province of Essaouira has made substantial progress in cultivating argan trees.

Chaired by Essaouira's Governor, Adil El Maliki, a crucial meeting convened on Wednesday to review the strides made in the argan sector and explore future prospects. Among the attendees was Latifa Yaakoubi, the Director-General of Morocco's National Agency for the Development of Oases and the Argan Tree (ANDZOA).

In his opening remarks, El Maliki underscored recent accomplishments in the development of Essaouira's argan sector, expressing optimism about the potential positive impact of these initiatives in the years to come. However, he emphasized the imperative to judiciously manage water resources for agriculture in the backdrop of Morocco's ongoing water crisis.

Yaakoubi, in her remarks, highlighted the meeting as an opportune moment to evaluate the current state of Essaouira's argan sector and address production challenges. She commended the constructive discussions that ensued and a proposed roadmap aimed at further expanding the industry, generating employment, and increasing the province's overall value. Emphasizing the ultimate goal of swiftly implementing sustainable development programs, she reiterated the importance of this initiative.

Abdelaziz Bousraref, the Regional Director of Agriculture, provided insights into Essaouira's progress, citing the successful planting of 3,000 hectares of new argan trees - a significant contribution towards Morocco's national target of 10,000 hectares. Bousraref outlined additional efforts to support the sector, including the provision of equipment to enhance production and quality. He also underscored ANDZOA's fresh perspective on restructuring the argan industry.