Regional Olive Salon and Agricultural Institute Inaugurated in Guercif
Regional Olive Fair: Minister of Agriculture Visits Guercif
On Saturday, Ahmed El Bouari, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, made an official visit to the province of Guercif, which featured the opening of the Regional Olive Fair and the inauguration of the Taddart Agricultural Technical Institute.
Accompanied by Mhamed Atfaoui, the Wali of the Oriental region, Abdeslam El Hattach, the governor of Guercif, and several institutional and professional stakeholders in the sector, the minister kicked off the fifth edition of the Regional Olive Fair. Running until November 20 under the theme "The Olive Tree: Territorial Identity, Better Valorization, and Sustainable Water Management," the event brings together over 77 agricultural cooperatives, institutional hubs, and specialized companies across 3,000 square meters.
The olive oil sector is a major pillar of regional agriculture, covering 151,000 hectares in the Oriental region and generating more than 5.65 million workdays per year, with a turnover of 2.36 billion dirhams. Thus, the Fair serves as a strategic space for promoting olive products, advocating for best agricultural practices, and strengthening cooperative networks.
In a related initiative, the minister inaugurated the Taddart Agricultural Technical Institute, a modern establishment spread over five hectares with an investment of 31 million dirhams. The institute features an administrative block, an educational hub, a dormitory accommodating 120 students, practical workshops, and a three-hectare working farm.
Agricultural training in the Oriental aims to educate 10,000 graduates by 2030 to support changes in the sector, enhance the professional skills of rural youth, and address the growing demand for qualified labor.
Mohamed Yacoubi, the Regional Director of Agriculture, emphasized that the development of the olive oil sector in Guercif is the result of sustained efforts to expand planted areas and increase regional production, which is expected to exceed 315,000 tons—representing 17% of national production. The region boasts 375 milling units, with 14% using modern technologies, and an annual processing capacity of over 100,000 tons.
This edition of the Fair is also an opportunity to launch study days and scientific meetings that will bring together experts and professionals to discuss technical innovations and the challenges facing the sector, particularly the impact of climate change.
Regarding the Taddart Agricultural Technical Institute, Mr. Yacoubi highlighted its modern equipment, social mission, and digital tools that enable hybrid learning. The institution will play a key role in enhancing the skills of young people and contribute to the modernization of the agricultural sector in the region.
The minister’s visit is part of the push to accelerate the implementation of the "Green Generation 2020-2030" strategy, which aims to strengthen the agricultural middle class, support young rural entrepreneurs, promote local products, and develop competitive and resilient agricultural sectors.
