The Regional Agricultural Plan (PAR) encourages the development of the small red fruit (or red berry) sector, which it considers one of the levers of agriculture in the Tangier-Tetouan region. To this end, measures are being taken within the framework of the PAR with a view to strengthening the competitive aptitude of the sector and its ability to position itself in international and local markets with new products with very high added value. "The lines of intervention retained are the extension of the areas of crops intended for export, the improvement of the conditions of valorization and marketing of production, the promotion of quality and the generalization of the notion of certification and finally the encouragement for the installation of new national and foreign investors", affirms Dr. Mouad Chentouf, head of the Regional Center for Agricultural Research (CRRA) of Tangier.

The PAR provides, for this purpose, an increase of 1,000 ha of the surface area cultivated with small red fruits in the Tangier-Tetouan region, encompassing several species of fruit shrubs including raspberry, mulberry, blueberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant. Moreover, the area currently devoted to raspberries in the region reached 171 ha in 2012, with a production of 1,400 tons. Blueberries recorded, this year, some 2,300 tons of production on a total area of 287 ha. Almost all of the raspberry and blueberry production in the region is intended for export.

It should be noted that a multidisciplinary research program is currently being conducted by the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) of Tangier in order to support the PAR in the development of the small red fruit sector in the northern region. According to those responsible for this project, which benefits from the support of the supervisory ministry through the competitive research-development and extension mechanism, it will allow the sector to be provided with production techniques adapted to the sector. The result of consultation with the various stakeholders in this sector, "this research program focuses on the installation of behavior and adaptation trials for raspberries, blueberries and mulberries, the mastery of production techniques, genetic improvement, the conservation and valorization of these berries and even, in the long term, the development of new competitive varieties with high added value", emphasizes Mr. Chentouf.

Let us emphasize that this type of crop generally requires a significant workforce. This will allow "contributing to the reduction of unemployment in rural areas", specifies Mr. Chentouf.