Morocco's Rice Farmers Demand Protection From Imports
Moroccan rice farmers warn of a worsening crisis driven by import competition, partly rooted in the Agadir free-trade agreement with Egypt.
Rice growers and industry professionals in Morocco are warning of a rapidly worsening situation for their sector, as growing competition from imported rice, particularly from Egypt, pushes them to call for urgent government protection measures.
The Trade Framework Behind the Competition
Part of this competition stems from the Agadir free-trade agreement, signed in 2004 between Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan, which allows duty-free trade between member states. This framework makes it easier for Egyptian rice to enter the Moroccan market at competitive prices, while local producers must absorb the full cost of production without equivalent tariff protection.
Shrinking Cultivated Land
Producers grouped under the sector's federation say cultivated rice acreage is steadily declining as low returns fail to offset production costs, while imported rice continues to gain ground in the local market at more competitive prices.
A Sector Rooted in the Gharb Region
Rice farming in Morocco is concentrated mainly in the Gharb-Chrarda-Beni Hssen region, where it provides an essential source of income for many farming families, making its decline both an economic and a local social concern. Farmers are calling for a review of import tariffs and stronger support for local production prices.
The issue reopens a broader debate over balancing trade openness with protecting national production, a theme WaFinkom's Economy section continues to track closely.
Source: Hespress