Celebrating Excellence in Moroccan Agricultural Products
The seventh edition of the "Moroccan Agricultural Products Competition" took place on Saturday at the Agricultural Fair in Meknes, celebrating the unique and diverse Moroccan agricultural products. This event was organized by the Agricultural Development Agency, continuing the ongoing support from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for producing groups, which aims to enhance the value of their products.
During the event, a total of 455 medals were awarded, including 134 gold, 141 silver, and 180 bronze, as reported by Hespress. The ceremony, which was part of the 18th International Agricultural Fair in Morocco (SIAM), was presided over by Ahmed Bouari, the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, alongside officials from the Agricultural Development Agency.
A special innovation award was presented to the "Amine" cooperative from the Marrakech-Safi region for their unique "Argan Oil with Organic Saffron," recognizing their innovative approach.
This initiative aims to acknowledge and value the efforts of producer groups, highlighting their expertise through awards that emphasize the quality and authenticity of their products. According to Mahjouba Chakil, Director of Local Product Marketing Development at the Agricultural Development Agency, this edition witnessed the participation of 1,375 products from various regions across the country.
After deliberation, the judging panel awarded seven excellence prizes, which included argan oil from the "Boukhdo Akrmod" cooperative (Marrakech-Safi), olive oil from the "Ageraswak" cooperative (Marrakech-Safi), thyme honey from the "Aqdaz" cooperative (Casablanca-Settat), Gouda cheese from the "Alif" cooperative (Marrakech-Safi), apple vinegar infused with herbs from the "Diyati" cooperative (Drâa-Tafilalet), Medjool dates from the "Ziz Bank" economic interest group (Drâa-Tafilalet), and hexagonal grain couscous from the "Tiadirte" cooperative (Fez-Meknes), showcasing the rich agricultural heritage of the nation.
Voices of the Winners
In separate statements to Hespress, the winning exhibitors expressed that this recognition goes beyond mere awards; it serves as a motivation to continue innovating and valuing the national agricultural heritage. Fatima Zahra Amini, president of the "Amine" cooperative, expressed pride in receiving the award for their "Argan Oil with Saffron," stating that it serves as a significant boost for the thirty female members in the Essaouira region to balance tradition with product development. She also thanked the Ministry of Agriculture and the Agricultural Development Agency for their support.
Mohamed Skourai, president of the "Ageraswak" cooperative, stressed that winning the quality award for olive oil is a result of hard work and a commitment to legal standards. Fatima Marzouq, from the Fez-Meknes region, highlighted that winning the gold medal for vinegar (apple, cherry, and peach) is a great honor and recognition of diligence, underscoring the motivational value these awards provide to producers.
Meanwhile, Tarik Fatihi, manager of a cooperative in the Souss-Massa region, expressed pride in winning a gold medal for "Amlo," commending the technical support provided by the regional authorities to ensure sample quality. He affirmed that this recognition encourages future product development with a vision that meets consumer expectations.
Looking ahead, Omar Al-Zaytouni, president of the "Demnat for Forest Products" cooperative, shared the cooperative's ambition to focus on innovating the "carob" as a product that combines nutritional and medicinal properties, emphasizing that this recognition motivates them to improve quality and contribute to local development.
In the honey category, Imad Idouma, representative of the "Sahwa" cooperative, emphasized that winning the national gold medal for "Sidra Honey" serves as an incentive to elevate their products to global quality standards, while also highlighting the cooperative's activities beyond beekeeping, including meat valorization and production of traditional foods.
Finally, Ahmed Farawi from the "Noor Wazan" cooperative affirmed that winning the gold medal in the "Dried Fig" category is a result of collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Agriculture, expressing gratitude for their ongoing support and considering this success a crucial step towards promoting the social and solidarity economy in the Wazan region and enhancing the competitiveness of local products.
As reported by hespress.com.
