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Mint sector: a niche activity with strong development potential

Mint - Finance - Activité - Morocco
Sunday, 14 November 2021

Mint sector: a niche activity with strong development potential

The mint tea is the national drink par excellence consumed everywhere in Morocco. If the tea is mainly imported, mint is produced locally in all agricultural regions of the Kingdom.

The sector has great potential both for the national market and for export.

Each region has its own variety. The best known are "Meknassi", "Abdi", "Ziani", "Doukkali", "Tamaris", "Lbrouj" and "Tiznit". Mint cultivated in bour is more appreciated by consumers compared to that obtained from irrigation. Its aromatic effect is very important and its production is seasonal, but it has a low yield per hectare in bour.

In irrigated systems, most often, farms are located in small plots of less than one hectare. It is a niche crop, since it only represents 1% of the market gardening sector. The interest of the activity is visible on several levels. Depending on the variety, it allows several cuts, up to 6 / year. Each cut ensures a harvest varying between 4 to 6 tons. The total production can reach more than 22 tons / year per hectare.

The sector does not require specific provisions in terms of the techniques deployed, nor a significant investment. Irrigation equipment, generally of the drip type, is standard, requiring a contained cost, given the size of the plots. Mechanization is only used for tillage and cropping. All other operations are done manually.

Suddenly, the charges related to labor are significant. Agricultural workers are called upon in particular at start-up (during planting), then during the weeding period and during cutting. Ultimately, the harvests provide significant income of up to 100,000 DH / hectare. According to the specialists of the activity, the harvests can increase appreciably to reach even the 40 tons per hectare. Currently, national production is around an average of 70,000 tonnes over an area of ​​4,500 hectares, of which only 8% is intended for export, mainly to Europe. The Ministry of Agriculture wants to extend the area to more than 5,000 hectares and ensure a production of 100,000 tons, of which 20% will be intended for export.

W/Financenews