Casablanca –  The COSUMAR Group (Compagnie Sucrerie Marocaine), a Moroccan group specializing in the extraction, refining and packaging of sugar, has officially launched its sugar campaign for the 2024-2025 season, with plans to cultivate 45,000 hectares dedicated to sugar beet farming. This marks a significant increase from the 23,000 hectares allocated in the previous season. The expansion reflects the company’s optimism about production growth, despite ongoing challenges posed by difficult climatic conditions in certain agricultural areas.

The distribution of the newly allocated land will see 10,000 hectares in Doukkala, 10,000 hectares in Tadla, 6,000 hectares in the Oriental region, 13,000 hectares in Gharb (west), and 6,000 hectares in Loukkos. In addition to sugar beets, COSUMAR aims to utilize 5,000 hectares for sugarcane cultivation across the Gharb and Loukkos regions.

Although the previous 2023-2024 campaign faced notable climatic difficulties, COSUMAR and its agricultural partners managed to achieve satisfactory yields, leading to increased incomes for farmers. This success has been attributed to the resilience of stakeholders within the sugar sector, along with substantial financial support from the government.

The Moroccan government has implemented measures to enhance irrigation access, aiming to provide more favorable agricultural conditions. The Head of Government has responded to the concerns of agricultural professionals, agreeing to allow water releases from dams throughout the agricultural year in key regions such as Gharb, Moulouya, and Loukkos. Additionally, allocations have been made to support the initial stages of planting in the Tadla basin.

Furthermore, ongoing projects focused on seawater desalination and a water transfer initiative from the Sebou basin to the Bouregreg basin are expected to bolster water resource management, particularly in regions critical for sugar production. These efforts are crucial for sustaining and developing the areas dedicated to sugar crops, aligning with the objectives of the 2021-2030 program contract established between the state and the Moroccan inter-professional federation of sugar.

COSUMAR has also secured substantial supplies of seeds, fertilizers, and agricultural inputs exceeding $51.5 million, which is vital for supporting farmers. Government financial assistance to stabilize fertilizer prices will enable farmers to significantly reduce production costs.

This season, the state has provided additional financial aid to farmers, with subsidies set at approximately $8.25 per ton for sugar beets and $7.20 per ton for sugarcane. Such support is anticipated to alleviate financial pressures on farmers, enabling them to better manage production costs and increase their incomes. This strategy is designed to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of the sugar sector, contributing to the country’s food sovereignty and supporting agricultural development across regions.

As the COSUMAR Group continues its commitment to improving agricultural competitiveness and profitability, the Moroccan sugar industry is poised for a promising season ahead, with expectations for sustainable growth and resilience in the face of environmental challenges.