The dynamism of the red berries sector and its implication on water resources in the Loukkos region of Morocco

The Moroccan red fruits sector has grown steadily over the last decade, supported by the national agricultural strategy and pulled by the expansion of demand in the international markets. However, the evolution recorded by Moroccan production calls into question the sustainability and good management of water resources. This study aims to evaluate the implications of the red fruits production system for the use and valorization of irrigation water. For this purpose, we calculate the financial and agronomic valorization of water, corresponding respectively to the ratio of the net profit margin and the total production on the volume of water supplied. Data were collected in the field through random and simple sampling in the region of Loukkos on 93 farms producing the red berries. In terms of financial valorization, the blueberry has a profitability of 67.3 DH/m³ of water, explained mainly by its high price, followed by raspberry with 54.2 DH/m³ and strawberry with 12.4 DH/m³ of water. Conversely, the agronomic valorization is higher for strawberries with 7.12 Kg / m³, followed by raspberry with 3.35 Kg/m³ and blueberry with 1.96 Kg/m³. This article discusses the crucial points of the sector such as the sustainability of water supply, the availability of qualified labor and land issues. It also advocates the search of other international markets and setting up national standards for products for export.

Key words: Red berries, water valorization, water productivity, Loukkos, irrigation.