Moroccan Tomato Producers and Exporters Threaten to Migrate to Mauritania and Senegal

A wave of frustration is sweeping through Morocco's agricultural sector as tomato producers and exporters contemplate a drastic move: relocating their operations to neighboring countries like Mauritania and Senegal. This drastic measure stems from a sudden and, according to industry insiders, unconsulted decision to halt tomato exports to African markets. Hespress, a prominent voice for economic and social issues in Morocco, reports on the growing discontent among those who feel blindsided by this governmental decree.

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We, as producers and exporters, are with this decision because Morocco's food security is a priority, as is protecting citizens' purchasing power, but for the decision to be issued in the form of verbal instructions and applied on the same day without taking into account the losses that farmers will incur and their commitments to African importers, is unacceptable.

Mohamed Zamrani, head of the Moroccan Association of Exporters of Various Goods to Africa and Abroad, voiced the industry's grievances. He stated that while producers understand the priority of national food security and protecting citizens' purchasing power, the abrupt nature of the decision is unacceptable. The lack of dialogue and prior notice has left many farmers facing significant financial losses, especially those with existing contracts with African importers. Six trucks laden with produce are reportedly stuck at the Guerguerat border crossing, unable to proceed due to the export ban, highlighting the immediate and tangible impact of this policy.

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There are six trucks of vegetables and fruits stuck at the Guerguerat border crossing since the decision to stop exporting tomatoes was issued, even though they were shipped and prepared before this decision was issued.

The producers argue that such "arbitrary decisions" and the absence of a participatory approach are pushing them to consider more favorable investment climates. Mauritania and Senegal, with their governments actively encouraging agricultural investments to achieve self-sufficiency, present an attractive alternative. This potential exodus represents not only a loss of business for Morocco but also a blow to its foreign currency earnings and its reputation as a reliable trading partner in Africa. The Moroccan exporters also reject the notion that their activities are solely responsible for the rise in local tomato prices, pointing to market speculation and the failure to control intermediaries as larger contributing factors.

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These arbitrary decisions and the lack of a participatory approach and dialogue in such matters are pushing many professionals to seriously consider moving their agricultural activity to neighboring countries, especially Mauritania and Senegal, whose governments encourage agricultural investments to achieve self-sufficiency.