Moroccan tomatoes have regained ground on the European market. After a three week slump due to weak demand, prices have been risen since Monday.
At the moment, the export price is between 0.6- 0.7 Euro per kg with highs of 0.75, a similar situation to the same period of the 2012-2013 season. What comforts the producers the most are the positive results in terms of yield per hectare.
According to a producer, the overall rise could represent an estimated 15-17% extra in potential export. At the moment 2,000 tons are exported daily. The good weather since the start of the season in the Souss region is one of the factors contributing to the yield situation. However the lack of rain over the last few months is starting to worry producers.
The agricultural sector consumes the most water, 994 million m3/year of which 412 million m3/year is from the surface and 582 million m3/year is underground. The ''action zone'' of the Souss-Massa region absorbs 889 million m3/year, almost 90% of the overall demand, and the stock in the Souss-Massa-Draâ dams is still very low.
Apart from water-related worries, there are also other concerns. The export season is faced with turmoil that even the most well organised farms cannot escape.
The Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers and Exporters (Apefel) doesn't have an office at the moment. The only person remaining on the Management Board is the President, El Houssaine Aderdour, who has been reappointed for a second term. According to a source, the make-up of the Bureau, released at the end of last December, with new members, has not been approved by either the National Entity Council nor the Inter-professional Federation of Fruit and Vegetables.
