The current state of Moroccan olive growing and prospects for its development 29 2002/2003 irrigated land, with the remainder cultivated using other irrigation methods. Figure 3 – Olive grove production methods in Morocco Rain-fed olive groves Localised irrigation where olive cultivation is limited, this species is capable of adapting to all bioclimatic zones, from mountainous areas (1,200 mm of average annual rainfall) to arid and semi-arid areas (less than 200 mm). Moroccan olive cultivation is mainly concentrated in the northern and central regions of the country. The Fez-Meknes and Marrakesh-Safi areas constitute the main production basins, accounting for more than half of the total olive-growing area on their own. These are followed by Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima, the Eastern region and Beni Mellal-Khenifra, where olive groves play a key role in the eco rural 261,000 ha (21%) 190,000 ha (15%) Changes in area Other types of irrigation 788,400 ha (64 per cent) economy. In the south, cultivation is more limited but is expanding, particularly in the Souss-Massa and DrâaTafilalet regions, thanks to irrigation projects and the development of arid land. … the area under irrigated cultivation amounts to 451,000 ha, or 36 per cent of the total area, compared with 788,400 ha under rain-fed cultivatio(n64% of the total). The area under olive cultivation in Morocco has been growing steadily since 2008, when the Green Morocco Plan was launched, rising from 748,000 ha in 2007/2008 to over 1.24 Figure 2 – Regional distribution of the current olivegrowing area million hectares in 2024/2025, reflecting sustained growth in the sector. This expansion, representing an increase of around 66 per cent between 2007/08 and 2024/2025, is the result of plantings carried out under Pillar II projects of that Plan (solidarity projects), support granted under the Agricultural Development Fund, and producers’ efforts to establish new plantations, including on marginal land. Production methods Nationwide, the area under irrigation amounts to 451,000 ha, or 36% of the total area, compared with 788,400 ha under rain-fed cultivation (64% of the total). The area under localised irrigation covers 190,000 ha, 42% of the Figure 4 – Trends in olive-growing area (2002–2026) 1,250 1,050 850 650 450 250 50 -150 Area in 1,000 ha 2003/2004 2004/2005 2005/2006 2006/2007 2007/2008 2008/2009 2009/2010 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013 2013/2014 2014/2015 2015/2016 2016/2017 2017/2018 2018/2019 2019/20 2020/21 2021/22 2022/2023 2023/24 2024/2025
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