Since the rulings of the European Court of Justice invalidating the agricultural agreements between the European Union and Morocco, and imposing the labeling of Moroccan Sahara products as made in Western Sahara, growers in the Dakhla region have been faced with the imperative of diversifying their markets. This is according to Fouad Zouhair, a grower member of the AJIDA economic interest group.
Along with several growers operating in Dakhla, the main production area for fresh produce in Morocco's southern regions, Zouhair expresses his astonishment at the European Court's rulings. He says: "We are the natives of the region that the European Court's ruling claims to defend. We are also among the very first growers to have entered the tomato and melon sector, and we proudly export our products under the "made in Morocco" label, and we will continue to do so."
The European Court has set a period of 12 months from the issuance of its ruling, in October 2024, for it to take effect. "In the meantime, we are exporting our products as normal. We trust Comader (Moroccan body representing growers) to defend our interests and overturn the European decision. I join my voice to my fellow growers in saying that we will never accept to label our products as anything other than made in Morocco, even if it means leaving the European market altogether," Zouhair adds.
This is where market diversification becomes crucial and urgent for growers in the region, where fresh produce production is expanding rapidly. The grower says: "The United Kingdom, which has left the European Union, is already our main market. We export large volumes of tomatoes and cantaloup to France, which are then redistributed throughout Europe. There is a real opportunity to increase our export volumes to the UK, as well as to other markets, high in demand, such as West African countries and North America."
The production of fresh produce for export is new to the Dakhla region and is developing rapidly, helped by an optimal weather conditions and recent investments in infrastructure. Zouhair explains that "the region benefits from long hours of sunshine, which induces good photosynthesis and favors early production, and even year-round production. Dakhla's cantaloups and watermelons are the first to arrive on the market, as early as March, which represents a good commercial window. The tomato season is extended and covers the entire year, from July to June. The quality of the produce is well established and has won the confidence of customers. The prospects are very promising with the launch in 2026 of the seawater desalination plant, which will serve between 5,000 and 6,000 hectares."
"In Ajida, we are a group of young Sahrawi growers operating since 2017 on an area of 100 hectares. We grow cantaloupe and cherry tomatoes for export under contract, and watermelons for the local market," Zouhair concludes.
For more information:
Fouad Zouhair
AJIDA
Tel: +212661443591
Email: [email protected]