Agriculture is a true economic and social engine for the Sus-Masa region, which has experienced strong development under the impetus of the Green Morocco Plan. The region, whose capital is Agadir, is considered the largest horticultural and citrus production area in the country, an activity that accounts for 17,3% of the regional GDP, according to figures given by the official portal of Sus-Masa, and 9% at the national level and where, according to data shared by the Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture, the useful agricultural area rises to 453.445 hectares, of which 174.862 hectares are irrigated and more than 108.000 hectares are equipped with irrigation systems by drip.

Hand in hand with the Green Morocco Plan 2008-2018 – which has been followed by the ambitious Génération Green strategy – agricultural activity has increased more than considerably. Between the start of the plan in 2008 and its completion in 2019, the horticultural acreage in the Sus-Masa region increased by 44% from 15.454 hectares to 22.300 (6.860 hectares of tomatoes and 3.000 hectares of green beans), including 13.385 hectares in greenhouses, and production rose 29% to 1,527 million tons, of which 990.000 tons were destined for export (78% of national exports of horticultural products).

As for citrus, the area increased by 14% in that period, to exceed 2019 hectares in 40.300, of which 52% corresponded to small citrus. The volume produced increased by a notable 41% to 907.000 tons, always according to the data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture on its website, with 450.000 tons destined for export, so that it concentrated 74% of national citrus exports .

Hand in hand with this agricultural expansion and a greater technification of crops, exports of Moroccan fruit and vegetables have also increased. In the 2021/22 season, from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022, as specified by the Ministry in a note, and "despite a difficult international context", total exports of horticultural products reached a volume of 1.607.000 ,13 tons, which represents a growth of 2020% compared to the 2021-670.000 campaign. Regarding the tomato, "star product of the horticultural sector", the volume exported reached 19 tons, 125.400% more than in the previous campaign. Red fruit exports also registered a notable growth with a volume of 18 tons, XNUMX% more than the previous campaign.

Citrus also registered a good performance. The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture communicated earlier this month that citrus exports reached a record volume during this season (from September 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022) of 766.500 tons.