Record tomato exports in 1997-98
Morocco, Agriculture, 7/3/1998

Tomato exports scored record levels in the 1997-98 campaign standing at 220,000 tons, compared to 165,000 tons during the 1996-97 campaign, which is a 33 percent increase.

The record was scored despite a 9.74 percent drop in the tomato cultivated surface areas (about 490 hectares), reported the newsletter of the "Societe agricole de service au Maroc" (Sasma). The increase in the quantities exported was mainly due to demand presented by some new markets such as Russia which absorbed 48,000 tons. Some 132,000 tons were exported to European markets.

Exports of green beans have equally recorded a 29 percent increase, going up from 7,223 tons to 9,357 tons.

Potato exports, meanwhile, dropped by 44.2 percent in view of the reduction of the potato cultivated areas and of the price offered by the local market, which encouraged producers to sell a large part of their produce at home, Map reported.

Likewise, strawberry exports dropped by 6 percent despite a slight increase of the cultivated area while melon exports increased by 25 percent despite a 16 percent reduction of the cultivated area.

Globally speaking, the exports of early vegetables and fruits have scored an increase of 16.6 percent, the newsletter said.

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