Nestled in the heart of the High Atlas Mountains, this region, renowned for its lush landscapes and fertile soils, also enjoys a climate conducive to the growth of fruit trees.

The olive trees of Al Haouz are renowned for producing fruit of exceptional quality, thanks to their exquisite taste and rich oil content.

Ait Mansour Hamid, head of the Sidi Ali Cooperative for olives and almonds in the Amghras neighborhood (64 km from Marrakech), stressed that the secret to the quality and prosperity of the region's agricultural sector lies in the hard work and dedication of local communities.

“We are keen to comply with current standards throughout the production process, from growing the trees to harvesting the fruit and processing it,” he told MAP, noting that cooperative members are involved in ongoing training to constantly improve production methods.

He also pointed out that the local authorities had provided invaluable assistance that had enabled the cooperative to expand its agricultural activities, boost its production capacity and modernize its facilities, notably through the adoption of localized irrigation techniques.

“Our aim now is to expand the distribution of goods both nationally and internationally,” he noted.

Moulay Driss Ait Saadan, head of the Tigdelt Azitoun Cooperative, said his organization employs around twenty people who collect, clean, process and package the olives.

Recalling that the earthquake had caused significant losses to local communities, he underlined that the members of the cooperative had benefited from the assistance of the local authorities, who never ceased to give them help and support.

As the main source of income for many families in the province, cooperatives have demonstrated a remarkable ability to recover from the earthquake.

Driven by a spirit of community solidarity and unshakeable determination, these cooperatives were able to mobilize to relaunch their activities.

The innovative approach adopted to meet the challenges has also enabled these cooperatives not only to return to their pre-earthquake production levels, but also to become a model for other regions of the Kingdom.