HIBAPRESS – Economy
The Administrative Board of the Moroccan Interprofessional Federation for Sugar, chaired by Mr. Imad Ghamad, held its 48th session on October 14, 2026, in Rabat, in the presence of representatives from the National Union of Sugar Beet Producers in Morocco and representatives from Cosumar and its subsidiaries.
During this meeting, the members of the Administrative Board discussed the results of the past sugar season 2025-2026 and the status of the current agricultural season 2026-2027. The Board approved the program for this season. This season is starting under optimistic climatic and water conditions, as the dams supplying the five sugar-growing areas have shown a remarkable improvement, reaching a fill rate of 67%, compared to 32% during the same period last year.
The Administrative Board has outlined an ambitious program that includes cultivating a total area of 63,000 hectares of sugar crops. This area is divided between 60,000 hectares dedicated to sugar beet (Doukkala 18,500 hectares, Tadla 15,500 hectares, Gharb 15,000 hectares, Loukkos 6,000 hectares, and Moulouya 5,000 hectares), and 3,000 hectares for new sugarcane planting in the Gharb (2,000 hectares) and Loukkos (1,000 hectares) regions. This program is expected to generate significant economic returns exceeding 3 billion dirhams for the concerned regions, contributing to value creation and enhancing farmers' incomes.
Sugarcane planting operations have already commenced on August 20, 2026, followed by sugar beet planting operations on September 15, 2026.
The Board expressed its full solidarity with the farmers who are victims of the floods that occurred in the Gharb and Loukkos regions during the past season.
The Administrative Board praised the efforts of all stakeholders in the sugar value chain in making this season a success, particularly the state, through financial support amounting to 70 dirhams per ton of sugarcane and 80 dirhams per ton of sugar beet, and the support of the Regional Agricultural Investment Offices in managing irrigation water and supporting farmers. It also commended the support for fertilizers and the exemption from debts for farmers affected by the floods in Gharb and Loukkos, measures funded by the state and the Cosumar group with a total budget of 425 million dirhams.
Within the framework of the aggregation model, the Cosumar group, through the regional technical committees, has taken all necessary measures to provide all agricultural inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides, with a budget of nearly 800 million dirhams. It has also made over 120 agricultural advisors available to farmers for close technical guidance.
Recognizing the importance of the sugar value chain, the members of the Board of Directors agreed during this meeting to establish a roadmap for this season aimed at improving the productivity of the sugar value chain, and they expressed their determination to increase national production levels.
Thus, the members of the Federation decided to intensify and consolidate efforts to activate and achieve the program set for this season; to exert efforts to achieve the objectives of the Program Contract concluded between the State and the Federation by 2030, while working to update it to keep pace with current developments; to work, in coordination with the relevant ministries, to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of sugar crops, with the aim of expanding cultivated areas and sustainably increasing farmers' incomes; to continue the mechanization program for sugar crops, with Cosumar allocating 120 million dirhams to strengthen and renew the agricultural machinery fleet. This step, supported by a review of the incentives provided under the Agricultural Development Fund, will enable the acceleration of the mechanization program to address labor shortages; to introduce new mechanisms for sugarcane planting and weed removal for sugar beet; to strengthen the role of research and development in increasing the productivity of sugar crops; to continue the spring sugar beet trial program; to continue the digitalization program for sugar crops by providing drones, the "ATTAISSIR" digital platform, and smart irrigation techniques; to support the modernization of factories, with Cosumar earmarking a budget of approximately 270 million dirhams.
The Board emphasized the need to work to ensure the sustainability of the sugar value chain, given its strategic role in regional development, as well as its importance in the production of vital sugar for citizens and the food industries, thereby ensuring the strengthening of our country's food sovereignty.
In conclusion, the Federation members commended the continuous support and efforts provided by all relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, and Rural Development, with its various central and regional departments, as well as the Moroccan Confederation of Agriculture and Rural Development, to support the rehabilitation of the sugar sector and achieve the set objectives.
