Avocado was first introduced to Morocco in 1950 through an experimental farm in Skhirat. This six hectare farm also had a nursery. The government of Morocco then used avocado seedlings from the nursery to plant a 14 hectare farm around Rabat in the early 1960s. It was not until the early 2000s that the first avocado orchards dedicated for export were set up.
The area under avocado production in Morocco has spread fast in the last decade. From about 1,500 hectares in 2010 to over 6,000 hectares as of 2020, according to the Moroccan Avocado Association (MAVA). The average annual production is 40,000 tons.
Nearly 70,000 tons of avocado were produced in 2020, according to market data company, Statista. This is an increase of 15,000 tons from the previous year. The lowest production year to date is 2013 at 28,000 tons.
Here is the production volume of avocado in Morocco from 2011 to 2020.
Avocado Production in Morocco
The production of avocados in Morocco is mainly concentrated in the north western part. The temperate climate of Gharb area in Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region is favorable for avocado growing. Since this area borders the Atlantic Ocean, it receives an average of 510mm of rainfall per year with an average annual temperature of 22°C. The mild, rainy winters and hot, sunny summers push farmers to do irrigation and sometimes frost protection.
84% of avocados come from the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region, according to the Regional Directorate of Agriculture. This region, which is bordered by the Rif Mountains to the north east, has loose clay and sandy soils that are good for growing avocados. Avocado orchards can also be found in the Casablanca-Setat region.
In 2021, Israel’s largest citrus grower and exporter entered into a joint venture with a Moroccan company to set up an avocado plantation. They will grow avocado trees on about 500 hectares of land with an expected maximum yield of 10,000 tons per year. They plan to begin planting in 2022.
Avocado growing in Morocco is dominated by medium-scale and small-scale farmers. The size of these farms is between 1 and 20 hectares. More farmers are switching from growing vegetables and fruits that are popular in the country to growing avocados because it is proving it has better yields and higher returns from selling it abroad.
Avocado Farms in Morocco
Many avocado farms in Morocco have standard density planting. The spacing from one tree to another and from one row to another is 5m by 5m. This means 300-400 trees can be planted on one hectare in Morocco.
Avocado Yield per Hectare in Morocco
The first harvest comes after three years but an avocado farm in Morocco begins full production after the fifth or sixth year. The average yield is 10-12 tons per hectare. But an orchard with mature avocado trees can yield up to 20 tons per hectare depending on the variety. The total expected income is 200,000 Moroccan dirhams per hectare, according to the ministry of agriculture.
Avocado Farming in Morocco
The number of avocado farms in morocco is rising quickly. The size of land under avocado cultivation in the Rabat-Sale-Kenitra region is growing by almost 400 hectares per year as stated by the regional director of agriculture. The only other avocado growing region, Casablanca-Setat, is also seeing some growth.
Avocado production in Morocco is set to become larger in the next few years. MAVA says most of the avocado orchards are young and will reach maturity within five years. They expect to hit 100,000 tons. They see it as an achievable target as the production volume in 2020 surpassed the estimated 60,000 tons of avocado.