Youssef Alaoui, the secretary general of the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development (COMADER), expressed concern over the blockade of Moroccan agricultural products by French and Spanish farmers. These farmers, demanding a harmonized agricultural policy ahead of the European elections, cite unfair competition and highlight the lower labor costs in Morocco. Alaoui countered these claims by emphasizing Morocco's adherence to European sanitary standards and the clear labeling of products' Moroccan origin. Despite incidents like the unloading of Moroccan cherry tomatoes in Perpignan, Alaoui insists on the compliance of Moroccan agricultural practices with health and environmental regulations.
Alaoui also addressed the issue of price differences, attributing Morocco's competitive pricing to the country's constant sunshine and innovative agricultural practices, such as desalination, which ensure year-round production. He pointed out that Morocco imports significant quantities of French wheat, demonstrating the reciprocal nature of agricultural trade between Morocco and Europe.
In response to concerns about labor costs, Alaoui highlighted Morocco's minimum wage and social coverage, arguing that these are in line with the country's standard of living. He concluded by reaffirming Moroccan farmers' commitment to meeting European standards and their rejection of the blockade of products labeled as originating from Morocco.
Source: actualnewsmagazine.com