Morocco's early fruits exports rise 33 percent

Morocco's early fruits exports increased by 33% during the 1998-99 harvest season compared to the previous season, said the Moroccan association of fruits and vegetables producers (APEFEL).

During the 1998-99 season that wound up last April, Morocco exported 359,592 tons of early fruits against 269,770 during the 1997-98 harvest.

The association deplored the slump in tomato receipts during the 1998-99 season. The quality of the Moroccan produce was adversely affected by the wave of cold that hit Morocco end of last year. The tomatoes receipts also suffered from the Spanish and Russian competition on the European market.

The European market, on which Moroccan exporters pin great hopes, soaked only 17,000 tons of tomatoes up to last April 15 against 31,000 a year ago.

Exporters deplored that their request to the government to subsidize the produce was not heeded, which contributed to the failure to reach the expected results.

Part of the move to consolidate Morocco's position on the early fruits market, the exporters recalled a previous proposal to convert the Moroccan debt owed to Russia into agricultural produce.

The lack of coordination among Moroccan exporters contributed to weakening Morocco's position, the APEFEL said, before calling for developing marketing techniques, integrating modern distribution circuits, regular supply and quality maintaining.