Moroccan Professionals Link Tomato Price Hikes to Climate Damage, Defend Exports

Moroccan farmers and produce professionals are explaining the recent sharp increase in tomato prices, a staple in Moroccan households, by pointing to the severe weather that battered the Souss region. This area, a major agricultural hub, experienced exceptional winds exceeding 100 km/h, devastating over 4,500 hectares of farmland and leading to a significant drop in the tomato harvest. Compounding these climate-related issues are the rising costs of production inputs, a global supply chain problem that has pushed the cost of producing a kilogram of tomatoes to over 5 Moroccan dirhams, up from around 4 to 4.5 dirhams.

“

The rise in tomato prices recently in the markets was temporary and primarily linked to the climatic conditions that affected production in the Souss region.

Speaking to Hespress, Zakaria Hanich, head of the interprofessional federation for fruits and vegetables, emphasized that the price surge is temporary and directly linked to these climatic events. He clarified that while wholesale prices in certain periods reached 6 to 7 dirhams per kilogram, the average annual selling price for farmers remains around 3.5 dirhams, which is below the actual cost of production. This highlights a significant gap between the farm gate price and the retail price consumers ultimately pay, with Hanich stating that producers are not responsible for tomatoes reaching 13 or 15 dirhams at the retail level.

“

The region experienced exceptional winds exceeding 100 km/h, causing significant damage to farms, with the affected area exceeding 4,500 hectares, in addition to fungal diseases that affected seedlings, which greatly reduced the harvest volume.

Crucially, Hanich defended the practice of exporting tomatoes. He argued that export revenues are essential for the survival of Moroccan agriculture, subsidizing the domestic market. Without the financial returns from exports, farmers would struggle to continue supplying the local market, especially given the low average selling prices within Morocco. The federation believes that measures like export caps and government support for specific tomato varieties will help bring prices back to normal levels, a trend that is already beginning to show in wholesale markets.

“

The cost of producing one kilogram of tomatoes has risen; it increased due to the high cost of materials from between 4 and 4.5 dirhams, and jumped to more than 5 dirhams.