Through the program ” Tierra Verde », the European Union (EU) and Morocco have signed an agreement worth 115 million euros to support the agricultural and forestry sector. The fund will be used to invest in food production, agricultural development and the protection of biodiversity.
In detail, and among the crops benefiting from this program is the olive grove, given that by 2030, Morocco and the EU have planted nearly 600,000 olive trees of more than eight different varieties, which will make the Kingdom in production volume of olive oil and table olives, reports the Spanish media Olive Oil Times.
During the 2021/2022 campaign, Morocco produced 200,000 tons of olive oil and 130,000 tons of table olives indicates the International Olive Council, noting that since the beginning of records in 1990, the olive yields of the Morocco have steadily increased. Moreover, and since last year, Morocco ranks sixth in the world in the production of olive oil and table olives.
Through this fund of 115 million euros, the EU intends to support Morocco in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises. Initially, this initiative will be implemented in four pilot regions, and depending on its success, it may be extended to other territories, specifies the same source.
For its part, the European Commission indicated that the main objectives of the project are to develop a sustainable agricultural and forestry value chain in the country and to create jobs in an equitable manner.
For its part, the Moroccan government stressed that this aid will be used to offer new opportunities, in particular to young farmers, through the mechanization and modernization of existing infrastructure.