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Mohamed Sadiki, Morocco’s Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, said olive production in Morocco has fallen by around 50% and questioned whether the government could be held responsible for that decline.
Speaking on the radio program Meeting with the Press, Sadiki explained that the shortage is linked to lack of water. He said that if anyone knows how to maintain production without water, they should offer a solution, adding that shortages exist across all production chains and cannot be overcome by debate alone.
The minister said that with lower production, the government’s options are limited. He argued that the Green Morocco Plan cannot be blamed because it cannot guarantee production without water.
He stressed that the issue is not productivity, but lower output caused by drought.
Regarding the measures taken, the minister said Morocco had banned olive oil exports after previously encouraging them. Only processed oils sold at high prices abroad are still allowed.
He added that the government encouraged imports of raw olives so factories would not stop operating.
Sadiki said Morocco has free trade agreements with several countries, but import duties will be raised for all countries, reaching up to 40%. He said the related decree would be approved that week, with the goal of limiting price increases in the domestic market.
The agriculture minister concluded that there is no possible measure the government has not taken. He noted that when rains were available, the government encouraged exports to prevent olive oil prices in Morocco from falling, while today it is limiting exports to protect citizens’ purchasing power.
Morocco’s olive oil production has fallen sharply since 2019, when it reached 204,000 tonnes, compared with 120,000 tonnes in 2023.