Articles
INTEGRATED PRODUCTION AND PROTECTION OF GREENHOUSE TOMATO IN MOROCCO
Article number
582_13
Pages
153 – 163
Language
English
Abstract
Protected cultivation was introduced to Morocco in 1970 and went through a
rapid expansion in the last 30 years.
The aim of the expansion was to enhance off-season
production of vegetables and fruit, to produce earlier crops than open field
production, and to improve yield and quality of the agricultural products.
In 1971,
only 1.6 ha of greenhouse was planted in Morocco, but this area increased to 16 ha by
1975. From 1981 to 1991 the area of greenhouse increased to 4841 ha and in 2000, the
area under protected cultivation was estimated to 11400 ha.
This latest development
was partly the consequence of regulations by the EU restricting the period of export of
vegetables from Morocco to EU to the period November-April.
Vegetables crops were
the first crops to be grown under greenhouse in Morocco.
Ten years later banana and
cut flowers were cultivated in greenhouse and grapes were added in 1996. Tomato is
by far the number one crop grown under greenhouse and covers more than 50% of
total greenhouse area.
This was due mainly to high profitability of this crop but also to
inducement by government who provide 70% of loans to private investors through
banks with 2% discount from the interest rate and a 20% cash advance to growers
with low interest rate (2%).
rapid expansion in the last 30 years.
The aim of the expansion was to enhance off-season
production of vegetables and fruit, to produce earlier crops than open field
production, and to improve yield and quality of the agricultural products.
In 1971,
only 1.6 ha of greenhouse was planted in Morocco, but this area increased to 16 ha by
1975. From 1981 to 1991 the area of greenhouse increased to 4841 ha and in 2000, the
area under protected cultivation was estimated to 11400 ha.
This latest development
was partly the consequence of regulations by the EU restricting the period of export of
vegetables from Morocco to EU to the period November-April.
Vegetables crops were
the first crops to be grown under greenhouse in Morocco.
Ten years later banana and
cut flowers were cultivated in greenhouse and grapes were added in 1996. Tomato is
by far the number one crop grown under greenhouse and covers more than 50% of
total greenhouse area.
This was due mainly to high profitability of this crop but also to
inducement by government who provide 70% of loans to private investors through
banks with 2% discount from the interest rate and a 20% cash advance to growers
with low interest rate (2%).
Authors
A. Hanafi, A. El-Fadl
Keywords
controlled environment agriculture, Lycopersicon esculentum, tomato yellow leaf curl virus, vegetable production
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