Celebrating Quality and Innovation in Moroccan Agriculture
The Moroccan Agricultural Products Competition has once again recognized excellence in the realm of local products during its seventh edition, held today at the International Agricultural Show in Meknes. This prestigious event, organized by the Agricultural Development Agency, is part of the ongoing support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to producer groups, aimed at enhancing and promoting their products.
This year's edition saw a remarkable distribution of awards, with a total of 455 medals being awarded, including 134 gold, 141 silver, and 180 bronze medals. The official ceremony was presided over by Ahmed Abouari, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, alongside officials from the Agricultural Development Agency. Notably, a special innovation award was presented to the "Amini" cooperative from the Marrakech-Safi region for their "Argan Oil with Organic Saffron," recognizing their innovative approach in product development.
Through this initiative, producer groups are honored for their efforts and expertise, which are showcased to the public, thereby solidifying the quality and authenticity of their products. In this edition, as announced by Mahjouba Chakil, the Director of Local Product Marketing Development at the Agricultural Development Agency, 1,375 products from various regions across the kingdom were presented for evaluation.
Voices of the Awardees
In various statements to Hespress, the award-winning participants expressed that this recognition serves as a significant motivation for continued innovation and the enhancement of Morocco's agricultural heritage. Fatima Zahra Amini, the head of the "Amini" cooperative, expressed her pride in receiving the innovation award for their "Argan Oil with Saffron." She stated that this accolade serves as a strong impetus for the thirty women involved in the cooperative from the Essaouira region to balance tradition with product development, thanking the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Development Agency for their unwavering support.
Similarly, Mohamed Skourai, head of the "Agersoak" cooperative in Al-Haouz, emphasized that winning the quality award for olive oil is a testament to hard work and strict adherence to legal standards. Fatima Marzouq, president of a cooperative in the Fez-Meknes region, described winning a gold medal for their vinegar as a significant honor and a recognition of diligence, stating that these awards provide immense moral value to producers, energizing them for continuous improvement.
Tarik Fathi, manager of a cooperative in Souss-Massa, expressed his pride in the gold medal awarded for their "Amlou" product, commending the precise technical support provided by the authorities to ensure quality. He noted that this honor is a strong motivation for future product development, highlighting an ambitious vision to meet consumer expectations. Looking ahead, Omar Al-Zaytouni, head of the "Demnat" cooperative for forest products, shared their ambition to focus on innovating the "Carob" product, which combines nutritional and medicinal properties, emphasizing that this recognition encourages them to elevate quality and contribute effectively to local development.
As reported by hespress.com.
