Morocco, sixth largest producer of olive oil

Morocco is the world sixth largest producer of olive oil, with 550,000 hectares of land used to grow olive trees, said Moroccan agriculture minister, Habib El Malki.

The minister, who chaired over the weekend a conference on the national oil-culture plan, said Morocco produces 480,000 tons of olives and is therefore the world's second largest exporter of olives (70,000 tons).

The minister added that oil-producing fruits will be grown on an additional area of 500,000 hectares over the next 10 years, representing only one third of the country's potential.

He called professionals to improve the quality of 80 % of the presently produced 48,000 tons of olive oil annually.

He went on that the state will encourage producers by granting them an annual subsidy ranging between 3,500 to 5,000 dh (between $357 and $510).

According to the minister, edible oil productivity remains low as it does not exceed 0.5 ton in non-irrigated areas and 1.5 ton in irrigated areas. He ascribed this situation to the weak rainfalls, the existence of small plots of land and the prevailing of low-production varieties, in addition to rudimentary techniques used in harvesting, collecting, storing, marketing and processing of oil-producing fruits.