Beekeeping: MAD 230 million invested in 10 aggregation projects.
14 February 2013
Read by 2021 persons
The most important project, with a budget of MAD 180 million, is being developed in the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region. The sector is disrupted by small informal producers and increasingly large imports.
Beekeeping in Morocco
The modernization of the beekeeping sector is underway. Since the signing in 2011 of the sectoral program contract, around ten projects have been developed, mainly the project in the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër region, which required a total investment of MAD 180 million. This project focuses on the aggregation of 200 farmers who are expected to produce 1,800 tons of honey by 2021. Nine other projects developed in several other regions total an investment of around MAD 50 million. They involve a total of 3,000 farmers.
For professionals, even if there is still much to do, these projects mark the start of the sector's modernization within the framework of the program contract. They believe that the aggregation of farmers will lead to the organization and restructuring of the sector, which suffers from informal production and honey imports. The predominance of the traditional sector, 250,000 hives and 25,000 beekeepers, shows, according to professionals, the importance of the informal sector. Indeed, more than 50% of national honey production, estimated at 3,500 tons, is sold through traditional channels at prices ranging from 70 to 350 DH.
This competition, explain professionals, hinders the organized sector, which has 120,000 hives and 9,000 beekeepers mainly located in the Souss-Massa, Tadla, Tiznit, Ouarzazate and Tafilalet regions. Indeed, in the modern distribution circuit, a kilogram of honey costs between 100 and 450 DH depending, of course, on the quality. The most popular, according to professionals, remain euphorbia honey (zgoum) and eucalyptus honey.
The sector's turnover should increase from MAD 210 to 960 million
In addition to competition from the informal sector, professionals also highlight imports from several European countries, South America and Asia, particularly China, which are regularly increasing. Honey from Asia and Spain is sold at a highly competitive price, not exceeding 50 DH.
It is precisely to encourage the emergence of a modern and competitive beekeeping sector that a program contract was adopted in April 2011. As part of the Green Morocco Plan, the sectoral strategy aims to promote investment and employment in the sector. Thus, by 2020, a total investment of 1.4 billion dirhams is planned, of which 431 million will be covered by the state and 1.052 billion by professionals. This envelope will finance the creation of modern beekeeping projects (aggregation projects, modern breeding units, hive product processing units, wax manufacturing units, and units for producing breeding and processing equipment).
These investments will have a double impact. Firstly, they will create 40,000 new jobs. Secondly, they should increase national honey production from 3,500 to 16,000 tons by 2020. At the same time, national consumption will increase from 200 to 400 grams per inhabitant per year in 2020. The evolution of turnover will be significant. It is expected to reach MAD 960 million instead of MAD 210 million currently.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, the average productivity per hive is currently 3.5 kg for the traditional sector and 25 kg for the modern sector. Wax production, mainly provided by traditional hives, is around 300 tons. Furthermore, the organization of the sector will promote a reduction in honey and hive product production costs ranging from 15 to 20%, according to the same source.
Beekeeping: Development of local products and labeling to enhance honey
In addition to improving the productivity and competitiveness of the sector, the program contract also aims to enhance hive products. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this enhancement is achieved through the development of local products and labeling. Different honeys are produced in various regions of Morocco, including citrus honey (Gharb, Oriental, Marrakech and Souss Massa), eucalyptus honey (Gharb and Doukkala), thyme honey (Errachidia and Ouarzazate), rosemary honey (Errachidia and Oriental), lavender honey (Oulmès and Ifrane), jujube honey (Oriental, Meknes and Marrakech), euphorbia honey (Souss Massa and Guelmim), carob honey (Tadla and Rif) and arbutus honey (Tetouan, Larache and Chefchaouen).
Aziza Belouas.
Lavieeco.com
Published on February 13, 2013.
Posted online on February 14, 2013.
Beekeeping in Morocco
The modernization of the beekeeping sector is underway. Since the signing in 2011 of the sectoral program contract, around ten projects have been developed, mainly the project in the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaër region, which required a total investment of MAD 180 million. This project focuses on the aggregation of 200 farmers who are expected to produce 1,800 tons of honey by 2021. Nine other projects developed in several other regions total an investment of around MAD 50 million. They involve a total of 3,000 farmers.
For professionals, even if there is still much to do, these projects mark the start of the sector's modernization within the framework of the program contract. They believe that the aggregation of farmers will lead to the organization and restructuring of the sector, which suffers from informal production and honey imports. The predominance of the traditional sector, 250,000 hives and 25,000 beekeepers, shows, according to professionals, the importance of the informal sector. Indeed, more than 50% of national honey production, estimated at 3,500 tons, is sold through traditional channels at prices ranging from 70 to 350 DH.
This competition, explain professionals, hinders the organized sector, which has 120,000 hives and 9,000 beekeepers mainly located in the Souss-Massa, Tadla, Tiznit, Ouarzazate and Tafilalet regions. Indeed, in the modern distribution circuit, a kilogram of honey costs between 100 and 450 DH depending, of course, on the quality. The most popular, according to professionals, remain euphorbia honey (zgoum) and eucalyptus honey.
The sector's turnover should increase from MAD 210 to 960 million
In addition to competition from the informal sector, professionals also highlight imports from several European countries, South America and Asia, particularly China, which are regularly increasing. Honey from Asia and Spain is sold at a highly competitive price, not exceeding 50 DH.
It is precisely to encourage the emergence of a modern and competitive beekeeping sector that a program contract was adopted in April 2011. As part of the Green Morocco Plan, the sectoral strategy aims to promote investment and employment in the sector. Thus, by 2020, a total investment of 1.4 billion dirhams is planned, of which 431 million will be covered by the state and 1.052 billion by professionals. This envelope will finance the creation of modern beekeeping projects (aggregation projects, modern breeding units, hive product processing units, wax manufacturing units, and units for producing breeding and processing equipment).
These investments will have a double impact. Firstly, they will create 40,000 new jobs. Secondly, they should increase national honey production from 3,500 to 16,000 tons by 2020. At the same time, national consumption will increase from 200 to 400 grams per inhabitant per year in 2020. The evolution of turnover will be significant. It is expected to reach MAD 960 million instead of MAD 210 million currently.
According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Maritime Fisheries, the average productivity per hive is currently 3.5 kg for the traditional sector and 25 kg for the modern sector. Wax production, mainly provided by traditional hives, is around 300 tons. Furthermore, the organization of the sector will promote a reduction in honey and hive product production costs ranging from 15 to 20%, according to the same source.
Beekeeping: Development of local products and labeling to enhance honey
In addition to improving the productivity and competitiveness of the sector, the program contract also aims to enhance hive products. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, this enhancement is achieved through the development of local products and labeling. Different honeys are produced in various regions of Morocco, including citrus honey (Gharb, Oriental, Marrakech and Souss Massa), eucalyptus honey (Gharb and Doukkala), thyme honey (Errachidia and Ouarzazate), rosemary honey (Errachidia and Oriental), lavender honey (Oulmès and Ifrane), jujube honey (Oriental, Meknes and Marrakech), euphorbia honey (Souss Massa and Guelmim), carob honey (Tadla and Rif) and arbutus honey (Tetouan, Larache and Chefchaouen).
Aziza Belouas.
Lavieeco.com
Published on February 13, 2013.
Posted online on February 14, 2013.
