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. This visit was marked by the opening of the Regional Olive Fair and the inauguration of the Taddart Technical Agricultural Institute.

Accompanied by Mhamed Atfaoui, the wali of the Oriental region, Guercif governor Abdeslam El Hattach, as well as several institutional officials and industry representatives, the minister launched 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 gathers 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 over 5.65 million workdays each year, with a turnover of 2.36 billion dirhams. The fair thus serves as a strategic platform for promoting olive products, encouraging best agricultural practices, and strengthening the cooperative framework.

In this context, the minister also inaugurated the Taddart Technical Agricultural Institute, a modern facility spread over five hectares with an investment of 31 million dirhams. The institute features an administrative block, a pedagogical hub, a dormitory for 120 students, practical workshops, and a three-hectare agricultural farm.

Agricultural training in the Oriental region aims to graduate 10,000 individuals by 2030, in order to support sector transformations, enhance the professionalization of young rural workers, and meet the growing demand for qualified labor.

Mohamed Yacoubi, the regional director of Agriculture, emphasized that the development of the olive sector in Guercif results from sustained efforts to expand cultivated areas and increase regional production, which is expected to exceed 315,000 tons—or 17% of the national production. The region boasts 375 milling units, of which 14% are equipped with modern technologies, and an annual processing capacity exceeding 100,000 tons.

This edition of the fair also provides an opportunity to launch study days and scientific meetings bringing together experts and professionals to discuss technical innovations and the challenges facing the sector, particularly the impact of climate change.

Regarding the Taddart Technical Agricultural 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, contributing to the modernization of the agricultural sector in the region.

The minister’s visit aligns with the acceleration of the implementation of the “Green Generation 2020-2030” strategy, which aims to strengthen an agricultural middle class, support young rural entrepreneurs, valorize local products, and develop competitive and resilient agricultural sectors.