Morocco's sugar production meets half of needs

Moroccan agriculture and rural development minister, Mohand Laenser, said Thursday that the Kingdom's sugar production meets half of the population needs, thanks to the multiple measures taken by authorities to develop the sector.

In an address read out on his behalf at the opening of a study day on agricultural development, Laenser stressed that efforts in agricultural research and supporting farmers have allowed a significant increase in sugar production estimated at over 500,000 tons annually.

However, noted the minister, the sector still suffers from poor infrastructure, limited capacity of processing plants and the delay in the sector liberalization.

In this regard, he argued for a new approach that is likely to create favorable conditions to improve the competitiveness of Morocco's sugar.

For the chairman of the sugar professional association, the sector needs closer and more intensive ties between national sugar plants and research institutions, such as universities and engineers schools.