The Moroccan mandarin variety Nadorcott has finally reached production in Berkane, one of the country's major citrus-growing regions. Mohammed Ramdani, commercial director of the Berkane-based Kantari Group, says: "After obtaining the license to grow Nadorcott in our region, and following a season of technical and commercial trials last year, we are delighted to announce the availability of Nadorcott from Berkane from this season, which is a premiere."
The variety joins the Berkane terroir and the famous Protected Geographical Indication "Clémentine de Barkane". Ramdani adds, "Nadorcott has shown a behavior very well adapted to Berkane's terroir, with good yield and sizes. It is grown under the net, with the advantage of reduced pesticide use. Its seasonality, from January to April, offers a clear commercial advantage, at a time when there are few soft citrus fruits on the international market.
"By all indications, the Nadorcott is well on track to acquiring a good reputation on the market, like the Berkane clementine, the only geographically protected citrus variety in Morocco. This further shows that the region's terroir is conducive to the production of a wide range of fruits," he continues.
According to Ramdani, Nadorcott's surface area in Berkane reached 200 hectares this season. "At the Kantari Group, we grow on 100 ha, half of this area, as the region's leading operator. The trees are still young, but we've already achieved a yield of 50 tonnes per hectare."
The commercial prospects for Berkane's Nadorcott are similar to those of its sister Berkane clementine, according to Ramdani, with strong demand from the European market, Russia, and North America.
Citrus production in the region has been severely impacted in recent seasons by the persistent drought the country is experiencing, reducing volumes by half compared with a normal season. "We see the light at the end of the tunnel with the forthcoming launch of the seawater desalination plant, which will enable us to overcome this issue," Ramdani concludes.
For more information:
Mohammed Ramdani
Groupe Kantari
Tel: +212661133150
Email: [email protected]
