The watermelon sector in Morocco continues to be impacted by water stress and the consequent restrictions on production. As in every season, confusion reigns among growers, but the sector remains attractive and resilient, according to Said Aghzou, CEO of Valyour.
Aghzou says, "The restrictions on production implemented again this season are necessary to protect the vital resource of water. They are indeed constraining in terms of volumes, but they also represent an opportunity for operators to reinforce their commitment to sustainable agriculture based on innovation and efficiency. On the other hand, we expect clear water management policies to be put in place, in line with His Majesty King Mohammed VI's call for responsible management of water resources, as these policies are crucial to sustaining the business in the current context."
Restrictions on production take the form of limiting the maximum area per grower and per irrigation unit, or even banning production altogether in certain regions. The impact in terms of volumes is obvious. Aghzou says, "Our production forecasts at Valyour correspond to 80% of last season's volumes, reflecting a cautious adaptation to the new constraints. We achieved this production performance thanks to great efforts to maintain a stable, high-quality supply to our customers." It is worth mentioning that last season's volumes are far less than the pre-drought period in Morocco.
Aghzou continues, "We put a great deal of effort into relocating our production areas. This season, we are partnering with over 43 farmers in the Zagora region in order to respect the individual area limitation, while adding areas in authorized zones in compliance with ONSSA guidelines. Also, since July 2024, our company has been carrying out research, inspired by the experience of growers in Italy, to identify effective solutions for sustainable irrigation management. And finally, we have secured early-season contracts with growers in Mauritania for production between February 20 and March 30, corresponding to the market need caused by the Ramadan period."
The exporter adds: "This season, we've given particular attention to details that are no less negligible, such as the use of pesticides and agricultural inputs, packaging and logistics. This season we are introducing new packaging for watermelons, such as wooden and cardboard crates (180 kg, 300 kg, 500 kg). We have established a new sales platform, COMMEXPO, based in Birmingham, with a distribution warehouse in London, offering attractive prices and more flexible payment terms to UK customers, in addition to our platform in Murcia, Spain."
Valyour will be exhibiting at Fruit Logistica at stand G-34. Aghzou concludes, "We welcome buyers interested in vegetables, melons, and herbs. Multilingual translators will be available at our booth to welcome visitors in 8 languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Arabic, Italian, Polish and Bahasa."
For more information:
Said Aghzou
Valyour
Tel: +212661552683
Email: [email protected]
www.valyour-group.com