35% of acreage for table grapes is in the Doukkala region. The sector offers 20,000 employment opportunities and over 10,000 in parallel activities.
Grape production covers 49,000 ha with a production reaching 230,000 tons per year, of which 172,000 (75%) is table grapes and 58,000 (25%) is wine grapes. Production has plummeted 23-34% compared to previous years. Between 2002 and 2006 production reached over 300,000 - 350,000 tons. This decrease mainly concerns table grapes and is generally due to ageing plantations. Production of wine grapes however has slightly improved thanks to efforts being made in the sector.
Only a small amount of acreage has high technological equipment (greenhouse, drop-by-drop watering, anti-hail nets, palissage, conduite etc), and the production on such plantations is destined for export, or the local market, but within a very early branch with a high added value. Specialised foreign companies set up plantations at the end of the last century in the Marrakech region. Their aim was to produce high range table grapes for export towards the EU. High investments were made (metallic structures for plastic shelters, wrapping stations, cold rooms etc.) and they introduced new imported varieties (early, white, black). Their aim is to have early grapes as of the 15th May, the date that exports begin and European customs law franchises start.
The sector supplies 20,000 agricultural jobs and over 10,000 related activities. However Morocco remains a small producer compared to the worldwide annual volume which reaches 60M tons, of which 12 million is destined for fresh consumption. To develop the sector many projects are being set up within the ‘Plan Maroc Vert’. Acreage is to increase by 1,000 ha in Meknès-Tafilalet bringing production in the region from 25,000 to 40,500 tons in 2020.