Morocco’s organic agriculture sector is on a growth trajectory, with government plans to increase organic farmland to 100,000 hectares by 2030 through its “Generation Green 2020-2030” strategy, according to the AgriMaroc platform.
To support this ambitious goal, the Moroccan government has introduced subsidies that cover up to 90% of certification costs for smaller production units. Despite these incentives, the sector faces challenges, including high certification expenses and a heavy reliance on imported organic products.
The journey of organic farming in Morocco began in 1986 with olive tree plantations in Marrakech. Since then, the industry has expanded significantly. By the 2017–2018 growing season, Morocco had allocated 282,480 hectares to organic farming. This included 9,500 hectares for cultivated crops and 273,000 hectares for wild plants.
Key organic crops in Morocco include citrus fruits, olives, tomatoes, and peppers. The regions of Fès, Marrakech, and Agadir have become central to organic production, with notable contributions from Souss-Massa and Rabat-Salé-Kénitra.
The sector’s output has surged, with production volumes increasing from 40,000 tons in 2010 to 120,000 tons in 2019. A significant portion of this production is exported, with the United States, Germany, France, Spain, and Italy serving as major markets.
However, the industry faces ongoing difficulties. The high cost of certification and the limited number of value-added processing facilities are significant hurdles. Additionally, the high volume of imported organic products highlights a gap between domestic production and local demand.
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